Effect of Nutrient Density on Performance, Egg Components, Egg Solids,
Egg Quality, and Profits in Eight Commercial
Leghorn Strains During Phase One

Small egg size is often a problem in young hens during peak production. If egg weight can be improved quickly during peak production to reduce small- and medium sized eggs, poultry producers will be able to improve profits, depending upon egg price, egg size, and ingredient prices. Many studies have shown that increasing dietary energy or dietary fat significantly increases early egg weight.

The increased egg weight with increased dietary energy or fat is mostly due to increased yolk weight.

However, as dietary energy increases to a certain level, further increases of dietary energy do not increase egg weight more. This might be explained by the decreased nutrient intake. increases, feed intake linearly decreases, resulting in the decreased nutrient. Decreasing amino acid (Lys or Met) intake significantly decreases albumen weight or percentage of albumen.

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