COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DEEP-LITTER AND CAGE HOUSING SYSTEMS ON EGG PRODUCTION AND QUALITY, HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, AND SERUM METABOLITES OF WHITE LEGHORN LAYERS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of deep-litter and cage housing systems on laying performance, egg quality, hematological parameters, and serum metabolites of White Leghorn layers at Haramaya University. A total of 120 White Leghorn layers at an age of 26 weeks and an average initial body weight of 1246.25± 5.65g were randomly assigned to the two housing systems in completely randomized design with three replications for study period of 90 days. The chickens were offered a weighed amount of feed, and feed refusal was collected and weighed on the next morning. The body weight of the layers was taken at the beginning and end of the experiment. All the data collected were analyzed using an independent t-test except for mortality and yolk color which were subjected to logistic regression. The results obtained indicated that feed intake of the groups placed on deep litter (104.5±2.48g) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those placed in cage (94.23±1.98g) housing system. The mean total body weight change and daily weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the groups placed in cage housing system than the groups placed on deep litter housing system. The hen-day egg production was significantly (P<0.05) higher for the treatment groups kept in the cages (48.34±0.33%) as compared to the treatment groups assigned to deep litter housing system (44.31±0.94%). The mean egg mass was significantly (p<0.05) higher for the groups placed in the cage (25.24±0.38g) than that of the groups placed on deep litter housing system (22.48±0.37g). The best feed conversion ratio (better feed efficiency) was recorded from the experimental layers kept in cage housing systems than those placed on deep-litter housing system. The mean yolk index of layers kept in the cage (0.4±0.01mm) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the layers assigned to deep litter housing systems (0.37±0.0mm). Yolk color was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the deep litter (3.6±0.29) than in cage housing systems (2.73±0.29). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the housing systems in mortality, egg weight, shape index, shell weight, shell thickness, albumen (weight, height, and HU), and yolk weight, height, and diameter. Moreover, there was also no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in total cholesterol, total protein, albumin globulin, and RBC, WBC, Hb, and PCV percentages. In summary, the results of the current study indicated that cage-housing systems had an advantage over deep litter housing systems in terms of egg production, egg mass, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio. Thus, it is concluded that the layers housed in cages were efficient in feed utilization and produced higher eggs of good quality than those placed on deep-litter pens. Further, a study is suggested to determine the deep litter housing systems to improve production performance, egg chemical composition and layer welfare.