Egg quality and hen performance responses to protein-calcium deficiency, cafeteria feeding, and cage density

Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) hens were given feeds (2975 kcal ME/kg) that were marginally deficient in protein (15%) and calcium (3.0%). Negative control was as a mash, whereas an experimental mixture had the same formulation, but 5 of the 15% protein was soybean pellets in place of the meal and 2 of the 3% calcium was oyster shell flakes. A complete cafeteria system acted as a positive control and provided pellets, oyster shell, and a 10% protein-1% calcium mash (2975 kcal ME/kg) separately in a three-compartment trough. Feed treatments were imposed from 24 to 40 weeks of age on hens kept one and two/cage. Performance effects, because of the feed treatments, were not apparent until after 8 weeks of experimentation. Production was sustained by the pellet-oyster shell feed mixture when birds given the complete mash declined. Feeds had immediate effects on egg quality. Egg shell deformation and albumen Haugh values were highest with the complete mash and lowest for the cafeteria system, while the complete mixture was generally between these extremes. Hens kept two/cage consumed more feed than those one/cage and responded similarly to each treatment, but the reduced performance associated with increased density was not alleviated.