Abstract
The experiment were conducted to investigate the effect of crude fiber in the diet of laying hens. Within the period of this experiment, metabolizable energy (ME) were measured by using 4 hens each experimental lot. Also, the digestibility were measured by using 4 hens with artificial anus, and measured for total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible energy (DE). Forty five White Leghorn hens were divided 15 hens each, and named control, low fiber and high fiber lot. Crude fiber content of the experimental diets were 2.0%, 4.5% (control lot) and 7.0%, respectively. Individual laying cagedhouse were used in this experiment and duration of experiment were for 15 weeks from March 5, 1965.
As a result of this experiment, the rate of egg production was comparatively low in high fiber lot, especially, after seventh week of experiment, it was highly significant between control lot and high fiber lot. Also, feed intake per hen per day were very low in high fiber lot, it was highly significant at the level of 1%.
It was found that there is no efficiency of TDN and DE and ME by the crude fiber content.
The reasons of the decrease in egg production, and in feed intake was not clear by this experiment. Some of the experiments should be needed to clear these reasons.
