Evaluation of hypocaloric and hyperfibrous diets on molting induced in laying hens

The effect of low-energy and high-fiber diets on induced molting in laying hens was evaluated. Forty Rhode Island Red hens were divided into four feeding schemes (FS): I) alfalfa meal (AM), II) wheat bran (WB), III) AM/WB (1: 1); ad libitum and, IV) control diet (30 g.day(-1)). Feed intake (FI), laying cessation (LC), body weight loss (BWL), energy balance (EB), laying restart (LR), weight and egg production were evaluated. The information was analyzed using mixed models. Fl.hen(-1) was lower in FS I (P < 0.05). The LC was higher (P < 0.05) in FS II (7.3 days). The AM led to the ideal BWL (25-30%) faster (16.9 days) with respect to the other FS (P < 0.05): range between 22.9 to 32.4 days. The LR was faster in FS II (P < 0.05): 12.3 days. Egg weight and production were not affected by FS (P > 0.05). Inducing molt in laying hens using AM-based FS offers advantages over conventional methods, accelerates body weight loss, ovarian reactivation time is minimized, and productivity is not altered.