Feeding laying chickens is essential for their health and optimal egg production. The quality of bird at time of first egg will determine subsequent performance and profitability. Birds must reach sexual maturity at the correct weight and at an age optimum to produce eggs. In feeding chicks, a well-balanced, high-density diet important and that feeding crumble is beneficial than mash. As the basic size is established in the growing period, body fat should be developed but too much or too little body fat should be avoided. Bone deposition also coincides with follicular maturation, so a pre-lay diet is recommended. The size of the egg is influenced by the egg yolk which in turn influenced by body weight. The basic nutritional requirements of laying hens are to support body maintenance, body growth, feather production and eventually egg production. The body weight at start of lay is a major influence of feed intake so smaller birds have lower feed intake and lower egg production. There are numerous factors affecting egg production like omission of ingredients, toxicoses, anticoccidials, management mistakes (out of feed, water, inadequate daylight, high temperature), and parasites and diseases. Egg size can be controlled by protein, methionine, energy and linoleic acid. For shell quality, nutrition plays a major impact (calcium, vitamin D3, phosphorus) but as the bird ages, egg size is also increased resulting to reduced shell thickness and higher breakage.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Noel B Lumbo
Assistant Professor and Head of the Animal Nutrition Division of the Institute of Animal Science in UP Los Baños

Dr. Noel Lumbo is a graduate of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science specializing in monogastric nutrition and gut health interactions in UP Los Baños. He is currently an Assistant professor and Head of the Animal Nutrition Division of the Institute of Animal Science in UP Los Baños. His research interests are on gut health, feed ingredient evaluation, evaluation of non-conventional feedstuffs, and designing diets for free-range and organic feeding systems. He is the Secretary of the Philippine branch of the World Poultry Science Association, a member of the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association and UPLB Interdisciplinary Center for Organic Agriculture. He is also the Division Leader for Food and Feed Safety of the UPLB Program for Zoonotic Diseases. He is a Life Member and Auditor of the Philippine Society of Animal Science. He is a Diplomate of the Philippine College of Poultry Practitioners (PCPP) and the Philippine College of Veterinary Feed Practice (PCVFP). He was the recipient of the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Congress (AAAP Congress) Outstanding Young Scientist Award in 2016 and in 2021, the Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS) Outstanding Young Professional in Animal Science Teaching. This year, the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) awarded him the 2022 Outstanding Veterinarian in Education and the Asian-Australasian Association Animal Production Congress (AAAP Congress) Outstanding Young Scientist Award for 2022.