Use of leucaena leaf-meal in the diets for molt induction in laying hens

Abstract

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of diets containing leucaena leaf-meal in the induction of the molt in laying hens. A group of 180 Hy-Line W36, with 90 weeks of age, was randomly distributed among five treatments with 6 repetitions, each with 6 birds. Treatments consisted of molt induction by the feed withdrawal method and diets containing 25; 50; 75 and 100 % leucaena leaf-meal. The feed withdrawal was applied for 10 days. Feeding molt diet was interrupted as birds in the other treatments reached 24% weight loss, or 21 days. During the induction period, there was a linear reduction of feed intake and a linear increase in weight loss as leucaena leaf-meal increased in the diet. Except for the treatment with 25% of leucaena leaf-meal, birds ceased egg production three days from the beginning of the experiment. Productive performance and egg quality in the postmolt period were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, molt induction using diets containing 50% leucaena leaf-meal or higher showed similar results compared to those obtained with conventional feed withdrawal method.