<div>Background: Currently prelay nutrition has gained attention in layer industry. Consumer concern attracted researchers to study on different egg qualities. The study was aimed to investigate the impact of different nutrient density prelay diets on egg qualities. 
 
Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various egg quality parameters were recorded during 24-40 weeks of age.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Inclusion of 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg significantly improved 40th week egg weight (p&lt;0.05) and albumen index while reduced yolk weight (p&lt;0.01). Prelay diet did not influence shape index and yolk index. The 18.0% prelay CP significantly (p&lt;0.01) improved albumen weight and haugh unit. Inclusion of 2.0-2.5% prelay Ca significantly (p&lt;0.01) improved shell weight and shell thickness than 1.0%. It is recommended to use 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg and 2.5% Ca in prelay diet during 16-18 weeks along with <a href="#bureau_2007">BIS (2007)</a> layer diet during 19-40 weeks age in White Leghorn Layers.</div>

Effect of Different Nutrient Density Prelay Diets on Egg Qualities of White Leghorn Layers

<div>Background: Transitional phase of 2-3 weeks (prelay) before onset of egg production is extremely important for efficient layer. This study evaluates different nutrient density prelay diets on the subsequent performance of White Leghorn layers. 
 
Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various growth and production parameters were recorded. 
 
Result: The 18% CP (T4 and T5), 2.0-2.5% Ca (T2 to T5) and 2700 kcal ME/kg (T1 to T5) in prelay diet significantly increased pullets daily metabolic energy (p&lt;0.05), protein (p&lt;0.05) and calcium (p&lt;0.01) intake during 16-18 weeks than 2600 kcal ME/kg (T0), 16.0% CP (T0 to T3) and 1.0% Ca (T0). Prelay diet (T5) improved egg number, per cent egg production, feed efficiency, performance efficiency index and egg feed price ratio without affecting weight gain and feed consumption suggesting that prelay diet is a compromise between grower and layer diets.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of Different Nutrient Density Prelay Diets on Production Performance of White Leghorn Layers

Background: Feeding high nutrient density best prelay diet (BPD) 2-3 weeks before egg production is beneficial and may allow to reduce layer diet nutrient density.

Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets were assigned to six-layer feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 19-40 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2600/18.0/3.0), T1 (2500/18.0/3.0), T2 (2500/18.0/4.0), T3 (2500/17.0/4.0), T4 (2500/16.0/4.0) and T5 (2500/15.0/4.0). These layers were fed with same BPD (2700/18.0/2.5) during 16-18 weeks. Performance parameters were recorded during the study.

Result: Feeding BPD did not influence pullets (16-18 woa) CaI, PI and MEI. The 3.0% layer Ca (T0 and T1) decreased (p&lt;0.01) CaI than 4.0% (T2 to T5) and layer diet CP reduction from 18.0 to 15.0% decreased PI but 2500 or 2700 kcal ME/kg layer diet did not affect MEI (19-40 woa). BPD did not support 16 or15% layer diet CP (T4 and T5) but allowed to reduce CP (T3) by 1.0% (18.0 to 17.0%) to support production. BPD (2700/18.0/2.5) with BIS (2007) layer diet in T0 (2600/18.0/3.0) is the best combination for supporting BWG without affecting FC and improving EN, HDEP, FCDE, EFPR and PEI in layers.

&nbsp;

Effect of Different Nutrient Density Prelay Diets on Egg Qualities of White Leghorn Layers

Effect of Different Nutrient Density Prelay Diets on Production Performance of White Leghorn Layers

Efficacy of Best Prelay Diet on Production Performance of White Leghorn Layers Fed with Different Layer Diets