Diarra, Siaka S. and Devi, Ranita and Rogers, Samantha and Vaeluagas, Papayaia and Moli, Junior (2017) Cage row arrangement affects the performance of laying hens in the hot humid tropics. UNSPECIFIED.
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Abstract
Although the traditional cage system of housing laying hens is gradually being faced out due to welfare reasons, cages are still
common in most developing tropical countries in different arrangements. In a 12-week experiment, the effects of a three cage row
arrangement on hen-day production and egg qualities of Shaver Brown hens was studied. Data were collected from 2 layer sheds
housing 9,000 hens in a 3-cage row arrangement (southern row, northern row and middle row) with 3,000 hens per row. Data were
analysed for a randomized complete block design where cage rows were the treatments and weeks the blocks. Results showed
no significant effects of cage row arrangement on feed intake, hen-day production, per cent yolk and Haugh unit (P>0.05). Egg
weight, egg mass and per cent shell were significantly reduced and feed conversion ratio increased on the middle row (P<0.05).
Egg weight, egg mass, per cent shell and feed conversion ratio did not differ between the side rows (P>0.05). These results suggest
that battery cage row arrangement may not affect the rate of lay but egg weight, egg mass and efficiency of feed utilisation may be
adversely affected in hens housed in the middle row. These findings have both economic and welfare implications.
| Item Type: | Other |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Agriculture and Food Technology |
| Depositing User: | Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Nov 2017 03:28 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Nov 2017 03:28 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10393 |
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