The effect of low protein pullet growing diets on performance of laying hens housed in the fall.

A total of 6000 layer-type pullet chicks were fed either a low protein (9.1%) or a high protein (15.4%) diet from 8 through 18 weeks of the growing period in two experiments. All chicks were fed a commercial starter for the first 8 weeks and the high protein diet from 18 to 21 weeks of age. All chicks were grown in floor pens and were supplied feed and water ad libitum throughout the growing trial. They were placed in either a cage- or floor-laying house and fed a commercial layer diet for 12 periods of 28 days each. The experiment was repeated in the subsequent year. The low protein regimen was found to produce a smaller pullet, delay sexual maturity, delay production peaks, and maintain higher levels of production near the end of the laying period. Pullets fed the low protein grower diet had higher mortality during the growing period, greater feed intake during the laying period, eggs with higher Haugh unit values, and reduced egg production in the laying house.