Effects of Energy and Protein Levels on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Parameters, Blood Biochemistry, and Apparent Total Tract Digestibility on Laying Hens in an Aviary System

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The diet’s energy and protein content must be adjusted to ensure that hens consume enough nutrients needed to cope with growth and onset of egg production. However, the main difference in nutrition between conventional cage and alternative housing is the energy requirements. Laying hens in alternative production systems are more active. Energy requirements for activity depends on the type of system and is therefore higher in alternative and free range systems. ABSTRACT: This study was performed to investigate the effects of apparent metabolizable energy (AME(n)) and protein levels on laying performance, egg quality, blood parameters, blood biochemistry, and apparent total tract digestibility of energy and nutrients in diets fed to laying hens in an aviary system. A total of 560 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (age = 30 week) were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with 2 metabolizable energy levels (2700 and 2800 kcal AME(n)/kg) and 2 protein levels (16.5 and 14.5% CP). Four treatments and four replicates of 40 birds each (stocking density = 15 birds/m(2)) were prepared. Results revealed no significant interaction between AME(n) and CP in the diet in terms of egg production, floor eggs, broken and dirty egg production, egg mass, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of laying hens. However, egg weight was affected. As dietary energy and CP levels (2800 kcal of AME(n)/kg and 16.5% CP) increased, egg weight increased (p < 0.05). Egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio significantly differed (p < 0.05) as the energy content in the feed increased. Ether extract significantly varied (p < 0.05) as the energy content in the feed increased. In conclusion, laying performance and egg quality of Hy-Line Brown laying hens in the middle stage of egg production (30 to 50 weeks) were not affected by different dietary energy and protein levels, but feed intake decreased with an increasing level of AME(n) in diets. Ether extract significantly varied as the energy content in the feed increased.