The effect of temperature on responses of laying hens to choice feeding and feed and water restriction

Abstract

Studies were conducted to attempt to solve three particular nutritional problems of feeding laying hens in the author's home country, West Timor, Indonesia, namely: (1) the high cost of processed (protein) feedstuffs (all of which are currently imported), (2) seasonal shortages of feedstuffs (particularly in the period before a new harvest), and (3) seasonal shortages of drinking water (particularly during the later stages of the annual dry season). ... The results of Experiments 6 and 7 indicate that the restricted feeding and watering of laying hens are likely to have some beneficial effects of economic significance to small-holder egg producers in areas such as the author's home region, West Timor, Indonesia. However, the small number of birds used, and the short period of time of these experiments, suggest that the effects of feed and water restriction in laying hens require further investigation. Future experiments, should indeed be of at least several month's duration, particularly in the "recovery" phase, should include groups of larger size, and if possible should be conducted under practical, field conditions so that feeding, watering, housing and climatic conditions are those actually used by the industry.