Landers K L, Woodward C L, Li X, Kubena L F, Nisbet D J, Ricke S C
Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Bioresour Technol. 2005 Mar;96(5):565-70. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.06.013.
Molting is a process by which a hen's reproductive tract is rejuvenated prior to the beginning of a laying cycle. This process is often artificially induced in commercial settings in order to extend the productive life of a flock of hens. The most common method for the induction of molt is feed withdrawal for a period of several days. It has been noted that feed withdrawal, while effective in inducing molt and allowing an adequate reproductive rest period for the hen, may cause deleterious effects on the animal. This has prompted the investigation of alternatives to feed deprivation for the induction of molt in commercial laying hens. This study involved feeding alfalfa to hens to assess its ability to induce molt. Results show that alfalfa meal and alfalfa pelleted diets were equally effective as feed withdrawal in causing ovary weight regression in birds. Molted hens induced by alfalfa diets exhibited postmolt levels of egg production over a twelve week period that were similar to that of hens molted by feed withdrawal. The postmolt eggs laid by hens molted by alfalfa were of comparable quality to eggs from feed deprived hens. Alfalfa, a fibrous feed with low metabolizable energy, may be provided to hens on an ad libitum basis for an effective molt induction that retains comparable egg quality and production.
换羽是母鸡在产蛋周期开始前使其生殖道恢复活力的过程。在商业养殖环境中，通常会人为诱导这一过程，以延长母鸡群的生产寿命。诱导换羽最常见的方法是停喂几天饲料。人们已经注意到，停喂饲料虽然能有效诱导换羽并让母鸡有足够的生殖休息期，但可能会对动物产生有害影响。这促使人们研究在商业蛋鸡中诱导换羽的饲料剥夺替代方法。本研究让母鸡食用苜蓿，以评估其诱导换羽的能力。结果表明，苜蓿粉和苜蓿颗粒饲料在使鸟类卵巢重量减轻方面与停喂饲料同样有效。用苜蓿饲料诱导换羽的母鸡在12周内的产蛋水平与停喂饲料诱导换羽的母鸡相似。苜蓿诱导换羽的母鸡产后所产鸡蛋的质量与饲料剥夺母鸡所产鸡蛋相当。苜蓿是一种代谢能低的纤维饲料，可以随意提供给母鸡，以有效诱导换羽，同时保持相当的蛋品质和产量。
