Abstract

COSTA, F.G.P. et al. Layers fed with different levels of energy and soybean oil in feed. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.223, pp.405-411. ISSN 1885-4494.

The aim of this work was to evaluate increasing levels of energy and soybean oil on performance and internal and external egg quality. Three hundred and sixty semi-heavy laying hens Bovans Goldline, 29 week-old, were used, during five periods of 28 days each. It was used a completely randomized design, in a double factorial (3 x 3), totaling nine treatments, with five replicates of eight birds each. Studied factors were soybean oil (1, 2 and 3%) and energy (2600, 2750 and 2900 kcal EMkg^-1) levels on diet. No interaction was observed among soybean oil and metabolizable energy. Soybean oil did not promote effect over none of the evaluated parameters. No effect was observed for energy levels on egg production, feed conversion, egg mass, yolk and shell weight, yolk and albumen percentage and specific gravity. Differences were observed for feed conversion, egg and albumen weight and shell percentage, given that the highest weights were observed at the lowest energy level and the highest percentage was observed at the highest energy level. Providing 2600 kcal EMkg^-1 was more suitable in order to keep production and body weight and also to promote improvement on energetic conversion and an increase on egg weight.

Keywords : Energetic conversion; Laying; Egg quality.

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