l Reviewing PSA collections l
to plasma assays. Data was not provided
on subsequent performance of hens molted using alternative programs.
molt. These effects declined with age
through 83 weeks. Neither of the papers
from Brazil dealing with formulation of
soy hull diets and behavior represents advances in our knowledge of molting.
Article 234P – Molting Hens Using
Soy Hulls: 2. Behavioral Responses
This companion paper dealt with be-
havioral patterns in hens subjected to
either fasting or feeding diets containing
soy hulls. Aggressive pecking was not
observed in the study but there was no
indication of previous beak treatment. In
all treatments, molted hens showed frustration in their resting, preening and nonaggressive pecking behaviors compared
to controls which were not subjected to
Article 244P – Molt Induction Using
Dietary Myceliated Grain
Myceliated grain is available as a by-product of corn fermentation. Molt diets
were prepared using the ingredient and
were compared with non-fed and full-fed
hens. Alternative molting diets evaluated
included 90% alfalfa meal plus 10% myceliated meal. Hens which were either starved
or fed 100% myceliated meal ceased production by the fifth day of evaluation. Body
weight loss was significantly higher in the
fasted hens (57%) compared to 8% with full
fed hens with values ranging from 35% to
44% for the various diets containing myceliated meal. Myceliated meal, available as
a commercial product, AF-90 was the subject of a presentation made at the Southern
Poultry Science Society Meeting in January 2009. At this time it was not considered
to be an acceptable ingredient to be used in
molting diets based on cost relative to inert
ingredients such as soy and oat hulls.
Article 84 – Evaluation of Limit Feeding Varying Levels of DDGS in Non Feed
Withdrawal Molt Program for Laying
Hens
Dr. Ken Koelkebeck of the University
of Illinois is considered the lead researcher in the field of alternatives to initiating
molt by fasting. Various combinations of
wheat middlings, corn, soybean hulls and
DDGS were contrasted over eight treatments extending for 28 days. Body weight
loss ranged from 7% in the corn/DDGS
and DDGS treatments to 25% (corn/soy
hulls) with other combinations intermediate between the extremes. No consistent
differences were observed among treatments throughout the post- molt period
with respect to egg weight or egg production. This trial demonstrated that DDGS
fed at a level of 14 lb/100 hens a day for
16 days followed by 12 lb/100 hens a day
for 12 days during the molt period did not
completely eliminate egg production but
post molt performance was not different
to feeding combinations of corn and soybean hulls. Additional studies on DDGS
in molt diets are proceeding. EI
8 • Industry Egg • October 2009 • www.WATTAgNet.com
