Impact of body weight at 19 weeks of Embrapa 051 layers on performance, nest utilization, and egg quality throughout the laying cycle

Impacto do peso corporal às 19 semanas nas poedeiras Embrapa 051 sobre desempenho, uso dos ninhos e qualidade dos ovos ao longo do ciclo de postura

ABSTRACT:

A total of 860 Embrapa 051 pullets were allocated into three groups based on their 19-week body weights (heavy: 1.48 kg ± 0.01 SD, N= 172 birds, medium: 1.32 kg ± 0.039 SD, N= 516 birds, light: 1.19 kg ± 0.019 SD, N=172 birds) and housed in floor pens with nests for a 65-week production period. Heavy-weight birds exhibited higher egg production during weeks 24-28, while medium-weight hens surpassed heavy-weight counterparts between weeks 41-46, and light-weight hens outperformed heavy-weight birds in weeks 61-65. From weeks 57-65, no significant egg production differences were noted between heavy and medium-weight hens. Body weight at 19 weeks affected floor eggs, cracked eggs, and double-yolk eggs (P < 0.05) during weeks 22-34. Heavy-weight hens laid fewer floor eggs, medium-weight hens had fewer cracked eggs (0.3%), and light-weight hens produced fewer double-yolk eggs (1.1%). No significant impact of weight grouping on egg weight was observed. Results indicated that body weight at 19 weeks influences the laying cycle, with heavy, medium, and light-weight hens exhibiting distinct egg production patterns, nest use and egg quality traits at different phases of the cycle.

Key words: cracked eggs; double-yolk eggs; egg production; floor eggs; laying rate; nests