Effect of three protein levels and an enzyme blend on egg quality of laying hens

One approach to enhance the Crude Protein (CP) value of laying hens diets it is the use of enzymes. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate different CP levels and an enzyme blend (Avizyme; AZ) in laying hens diets on egg quality. Two hundred and eighty eight ISA Babcock B-300 hens were used. The diets were: (A) 18.8% CP, (B) 18.8% CP+AZ, (C) 16.6% CP, (D) 16.6% CP+AZ, (E) 16.0% CP and(F) 15.4% CP. Data were analyzed using analyses of variance for factorial designs (Diets A, B, C and D) and a complete randomized design (Diets C, E and F). CP or AZ had no effect on egg quality (p>0.05). Reduction of CP in laying hen diets tended (p<0.08) to increase feed intake (90.8, 93.6 and 96.5 g day(-1)) and feed conversion (p<0.05) (2.1, 2.2 and 2.3) for 16.6, 16.0 y 15.4% of CP, respectively. Reduction of CP in laying diets increased (p<0.05) albumen height (11.4, 11.9 y 11.9 mm). Significant (p<0.05) reductions of feed intake (96.2 vs 89.9 g day(-1)) and feed conversion (2.1 versus 2.0) in diets supplemented AZ were observed. Significant (p<0.05) interactions of PC and AZ on feed intake and feed conversion were found. The reduction of CP in the diets did not affect egg quality, but has an effect on feed intake and feed conversion. Avizyme supplementation reduced feed intake and improve feed efficiency in high CP diets.