This experiment was carried out to compare the productive performance of commercial laying hens after being under different methods of induced molting. Ninety-six Hy-Line white laying hens, 85 weeks of age were allotted to a randomized block design with four treatments. The treatments were: T1 - the conventional method consisted of feed withdrawal during the 12 first days of the experiment; T2 - diet of high-zinc content; T3 - low-energy diet, fed limited daily portions (45 g per hen per day); T4 - low-energy diet fed ad libitum. The production data presented after the molt period were recorded during five 28-day periods. The egg-laying percentage (hen/day) and feed: egg ratio (kg feed/kg egg) were better for hens under the conventional treatment (T1), high zinc diet (T2) and low-energy diet ad libitum (T4) in comparison with low-energy diet in limited daily portions (T3). The egg weight was higher for hens under treatments conventional (T1) and low-energy diet ad libitum (T4) in relation to the ones under high zinc diet (T2) and low-energy diet in limited daily portion (T3). Feed intake was not affected by the used molting methods. The use of the low-energy diet when offered ad libitum and a high-zinc diet as an induction of molting methods produced similar performance to those obtained by conventional method.
feed; low energy diet; molting; zinc oxide; layers
