24-HOUR FEED WITHDRAWAL AND LIMITED FEEDING AS ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR INDUCTION OF MOLT IN LAYING HENS

Alternative molting methods involving shorter periods of feed withdrawal and feeding a low-density and low-energy ''molt diet'' were compared to conventionally molted (8-day feed removal) and non-molted hens. Alternative molt methods consisted of feeding the molt diet for 28 days for ad libitum intake, daily limited, or alternate-day limited (feeding every other day). Egg production, egg weight, specific gravity, body weight, feed intake, and mortality were recorded for 31 wk from the start of the molt (4 wk molt, 1 wk prelay, and 26 wk postmolt). Economic variables (feed cost, egg value, income over feed costs per hen housed) were compared between molting methods. Hens provided ad libitum access to the molt diet produced more eggs during the molt period than hens molted by other methods. Total egg production and income (egg value minus feed cost) were comparable among all molting methods and exceeded the values for nonmolted control hens. Income per hen housed was $2.20 for nonmolted control, $2.87 for the conventional, $2.92 for ad libitum, $2.81 for daily limited, and $2.97 for the alternate-day limited hens. These results indicate that alternative molting methods involving periods of feed withdrawal of 24 h or less can be as economically effective as conventional methods using longer periods of feed withdrawal.