Effect of three feeding programmes on productive and reproductive indices of Cobb 500 breeder hens at the final stage of production

Virgilio Pacheco G.; Nadia Fuentes N.; Rivadeneira V.; Marcial Enciso A.; Fernando Carcelén C.; Marco Gutiérrez T.; Fritz Trillo Z.; Jimny Nuñez D. · Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru (2026) · DOI: 10.15381/rivep.v36i6.32164

Resumen

The aim of this study was to evaluate over a period of 4 weeks the effect of three feeding programmes to increase feed availability on the productive and reproductive performance of Cobb 500 heavy breeding hens (62-65 weeks old) at the final egg-laying stage. A total of 1680 hens aged 62 weeks and 168 roosters were monitored. The increases in feed intake over a standard diet were were 0% (T1), 15% (T2), 30% (T3), and 45% (T4). The hens were fed a powdered diet and water ad libitum. Feed intake, live weight, egg production, and fertility were evaluated as response variables. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used with 4 treatments and 6 replications. The hens consumed 100% of the feed supplied in all treatments. The results of live weight at the end of the experiment showed statistical differences (p<0.01) among the treatments, with T4 showing the highest weight (4802.50 ± 83.97 g), followed by T3, T2, and T1 (4478 ± 15.94 g, 4271 ± 17.61 g, 4165 ± 28.47 g) respectively. Egg production showed statistical differences (p<0.01) in hens at 65 weeks of age, with T4 having a lower egg production (35.13 ± 4.11%) compared with the other treatments. Egg fertility decreased (p<0.01) by up to 12.56% (T4) in relation to the control treatment. In conclusion, the increase in feed favoured weight gain at the expense of egg production and fertility.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina