Effect of litter condition, antibiotics, barley and lucerne meal on egg yolk colour and performance of crossbred layers

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Abstract
The effects of litter condition, antibiotics, barley and lucerne meal on the pigmentation of egg yolks and performance of crossbred layers were examined in two factorial experiments. In both experiments pigmentation of egg yolks was depressed by barley and improved either by 6 per cent lucerne meal in the diet or by housing the birds on wet litter. There were significant interactions between litter condition, antibiotics, lucerne meal and cereals on yolk colour, egg production and efficiency of feed conversion. In experiment 1, young pullets laid fewer eggs when fed diets with 57.2 per cent barley plus 6 per cent lucerne meal. This depression in egg production was alleviated by antibiotics. Feed intake was increased and feed conversion efficiency and body weight gains were decreased by barley, whereas lucerne meal decreased both feed intake and body weight gains. Pullets on wet litter laid larger eggs with lower Haugh unit scores. In experiment 2, older hens laid more eggs on diets with 6 per cent lucerne meal, particularly in the absence of barley and when housed on dry litter. Body weights of these hens were decreased by barley.