Impact of growth curve and dietary energy-to-protein ratio of broiler breeders on egg quality and egg composition

J. Heijmans; M. Duijster; W.J.J. Gerrits; B. Kemp; R.P. Kwakkel; H. van den Brand

Poultry Science (Jul 2022)

Impact of growth curve and dietary energy-to-protein ratio of broiler breeders on egg quality and egg composition

J. Heijmans,
M. Duijster,
W.J.J. Gerrits,
B. Kemp,
R.P. Kwakkel,
H. van den Brand

Affiliations

J. Heijmans: De Heus Animal Nutrition B.V., Ede 6717 VE, the Netherlands; Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands; Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands; Corresponding author:
M. Duijster: De Heus Animal Nutrition B.V., Ede 6717 VE, the Netherlands
W.J.J. Gerrits: Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands
B. Kemp: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands
R.P. Kwakkel: Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands
H. van den Brand: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, Wageningen NL-6700 AH, the Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 101, no. 7
p. 101946

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Egg characteristics have an impact on embryonic development and post-hatch performance of broilers. The impact of growth curve (GC) and dietary energy-to-protein ratio of broiler breeder hens on egg characteristics was investigated. At hatch, 1,536 pullets were randomly allotted to 24 pens in a 2 × 4 factorial dose-response design with 2 GC (standard growth curve = SGC or elevated growth curve = EGC (+ 15%)) and 4 diets, differing in energy-to-protein ratio (defined as 96%, 100%, 104% and 108% AMEn diet). Feed allocation per treatment was adapted weekly to achieve the targeted GC and to achieve pair-gain of breeders within each GC. Breeders on an EGC produced larger eggs (∆ = 2.3 g; P < 0.001) compared to breeders on a SGC. An exponential regression curve, with age (wk) of the breeders, was fitted to describe the impact of GC and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on egg composition. Yolk weight was 0.8 g higher for eggs from EGC breeders than from SGC breeders (a−108.1*0.907Age, where a was 22.1 and 22.9 for SGC and EGC, respectively; R2 = 0.97; P<0.001). An interaction between GC and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on albumen weight was observed (P = 0.04). Dietary energy-to-protein ratio did not affect albumen weight in SGC breeders (42.7−56.2*0.934Age; R2 = 0.89), but for EGC breeders, a higher dietary energy-to-protein ratio resulted in a 0.9 g lower albumen weight from 96% AMEn to 108% AMEn (a−62.9*0.926Age, where a was 43.4, 43.2, 42.8, and 42.5 for 96% AMEn, 100% AMEn, 104% AMEn, and 108% AMEn, respectively; R2 = 0.86). Albumen DM content decreased linearly with an increased dietary energy-to-protein ratio, but this was more profound in EGC breeders (β = −0.03 %/% AMEn) than in SGC breeders (β = −0.01 %/% AMEn; P = 0.03). Overall, it can be concluded that an EGC for breeders led to larger eggs with a more yolk and albumen, whereas dietary energy-to-protein ratio had minor effects on egg composition.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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