Effect of Wet Feeding on Feed Conversion Efficiency in Laying Hens during Summer Season

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of wet feeding on feed conversion efficiency in laying hens during summer season. The study was carried out on 192 pullets of eight weeks age (distributed to four groups). The feed offered to chicks consisted of starter diet up to 8 weeks of age and grower diet up to 20 weeks of age. From 20 weeks onwards, birds were provided with layer diet up to the end of the experiment. Birds of control group (T1) were offered dry feed. Water was mixed with feed in T2 (700 mL/kg), T3 (800 mL/kg) and T4(900 mL/kg) groups. The study lasted for 100 days. Results indicated that wet feeding improves feed utilization (FCR) in terms of kg of feed per dozen of eggs and kg of feed per kg egg mass as compared to control. Overall, the results indicate an improvement in feed conversion efficiency in all groups as compared to control but it was highly significant (P˂0.05) in T3 group in which water supplementation was made at a level of 800 mL/kg feed.