Abstract

One trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of metabolizable energy (ME) and sulfur amino acids (AAAS) on the productive performance and economic return of laying hens. A total of 405 ISA Brown laying hens (5 birds/pen) of 30 wk of age were distributed in a randomized experimental block design in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, composed of three levels of ME (2,646, 2,793 and 2,940 Mcal/Kg) and 3 levels of SAAs (0.67, 0.71 and 0.745%). Egg production, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight and egg mass, ME intake, SAAs intake, Haugh unit and feed cost (kg of egg mass), were evaluated. Significant interaction (P < 0.05) between ME × SAAs was observed on feed intake, feed conversion, ME intake and SAAs intake. 2,793 Mcal/kg of ME and 0.745% of SAAs propitiated higher (P < 0.05) feed intake, SAAs intake and better feed conversion ratio. Birds fed low-ME and SAAs diets showed low feed intake, egg production, feed conversion, egg mass, ME intake and SAAs intake. Diets providing 2,793 Mcal/kg of ME maximized (P < 0.01) egg production and egg mass. While Diets providing 0.745% of SAAs maximized (P < 0.05) egg weight and egg mass. The diet with 2,793 Mcal/kg of ME and 0.745% of SAAs had the lowest feed cost and the higher profit per kg of egg mass. Thus, the best productive performance and economic return of laying hens diet may be obtained with levels of 2,793 Mcal/kg of ME and 0.745% of SAAs.

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