Effect of nutrient density on performance and egg quality of laying hens at high altitude

Abstract The effect of nutritional density on performance and egg quality has not been stablished in hens at high altitudes. This study evaluated the effect of different nutritional densities on performance and egg quality of laying hens at high altitude. Sixty 45-weeks old Hy-Line Brown hens distributed in 12 cages (5 birds each) and assigned to one of three dietary treatments (i.e, low nutritional density, LND; medium nutritional density, MND –control diet; high nutritional density, HND) were fed during four weeks and assessed during the las one. Feed intake, egg production rate, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, and external and internal egg quality were evaluated. No differences were observed in performance, egg weight, egg length, egg width, egg surface area, and egg shape index (P > 0.05). Shell weight, thickness, and weight per unit of surface area were higher in the LND and MND diets compared to the HND (P = 0.003, P = 0.017, and P = 0.031, respectively). While dense albumen length was greater in the control diet (MND) compared to LND and HND (P = 0.049), no other internal quality trait showed differences (P > 0.05). In conclusion, laying hens fed LND and MND diets showed better shell integrity (greater shell weight and thickness).