Table 3.
Effect of defatted diatom microalgal biomass on body weight, feed intake, egg production rate, egg mass and FCR
| Item | Control |
7.5% Algae |
7.5% Algae |
15% Algae |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -SBM | -SBM/Corn | -SBM/Corn | ||
| Body weight, kg |
|
|
|
|
| Wk 0 |
1.53 ± 0.16 |
1.60 ± 0.19 |
1.58 ± 0.18 |
1.58 ± 0.20 |
| Wk 8 |
1.47 ± 0.08 |
1.58 ± 0.08 |
1.53 ± 0.11 |
1.51 ± 0.10 |
| Daily feed intake, g/hen |
|
|||
| Wk 1-4 |
100.1 ± 4.9 |
96.9 ± 3.9 |
95.9 ± 6.7 |
92.6 ± 11.2 |
| Wk 5-8 |
96.0 ± 8.3a |
96.0 ± 3.6a |
95.0 ± 6.9a |
85.5 ± 4.5b |
| Wk 1-8 |
98.1 ± 6.0a |
96.4 ± 3.4ab |
95.4 ± 5.9ab |
89.1 ± 5.9b |
| Egg production rate, %1 |
|
|
|
|
| Wk 1-4 |
86.7 ± 3.4 |
83.7 ± 6.3 |
84.7 ± 6.6 |
75.1 ± 16.4 |
| Wk 5-8 |
81.3 ± 11.2a |
85.6 ± 5.0a |
83.9 ± 8.7a |
69.0 ± 6.6b |
| Wk 1-8 |
84.0 ± 7.1a |
84.6 ± 4.7a |
84.3 ± 7.1a |
72.1 ± 10.1b |
| Egg mass, g/hen/d |
|
|
|
|
| Wk 1-4 |
52.02 ± 2.02 |
49.79 ± 3.68 |
50.21 ± 3.23 |
45.63 ± 8.65 |
| Wk 5-8 |
48.77 ± 5.02a |
49.73 ± 2.23a |
49.71 ± 4.34a |
41.43 ± 4.01b |
| Wk 1-8 |
50.40 ± 3.87a |
49.74 ± 2.93a |
49.96 ± 3.36a |
43.53 ± 5.71b |
| FCR2 |
|
|
|
|
| Wk 1-4 |
1.92 ± 0.03 |
1.95 ± 0.05 |
1.91 ± 0.06 |
2.02 ± 0.11 |
| Wk 5-8 |
1.97 ± 0.08a |
1.93 ± 0.04a |
1.92 ± 0.05a |
2.06 ± 0.05b |
| Wk 1-8 | 1.94 ± 0.06a | 1.94 ± 0.04a | 1.92 ± 0.05a | 2.05 ± 0.09b |
a,bMeans in the same row without a letter in common are different (P < 0.05).
1Egg production = 100 [number of eggs laid ÷ (number of hens x number of days)].
2FCR = feed intake (g) / egg mass (g).