Blood biochemical parameters and organ development of brown layers fed reduced dietary protein levels in two rearing systems

• Published in: Animal bioscience 2022, 35(3), , pp.444-452
• Main Authors: Viana, Eduardo de Faria, Mello, Heloisa Helena de Carvalho, Carvalho, Fabyola Barros, Cafe, Marcos Barcellos, Mogyca Leandro, Nadja Susana, Arnhold, Emmanuel, Stringhini, Jose Henrique
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal housing; blood plasma; Digestive organs; digestive system; Health aspects; Physiological aspects; poultry housing; protein content; Proteins in human nutrition; welfare; Zoological research; 축산학
• ISSN: 2765-0189; 2765-0235; 2765-0235
• DOI: 10.5713/ab.21.0145

Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of crude protein (CP) and two rearing systems (cage and floor), on blood parameters and digestive and reproductive organ development of brown laying hens.Methods: A total of 400 Hisex Brown laying hens between 30 and 45 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design and a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with main effects including two rearing systems (cage and floor) and levels of CP (140, 150, 160, and 180 g/kg), in a total of eight treatments and five replicates of 10 birds each with initial body weight of 1,877 g (laying hen in cage) and 1,866 g (laying hens in floor). The parameters evaluated were plasma total protein, albumin, uric acid, total cholesterol, relative weights of oviduct, abdominal fat, liver, gizzard, crest and dewlap, length of small intestine and oviduct.Results: The blood parameters were similar in birds reared in cage and floor systems. The birds reared on the floor showed greater small intestine and oviduct weight (%) and lower liver and pancreas weight (%). A significant interaction was observed between factors for the relative gizzard, crest and dewlap weight, serum protein, uric acid, and total cholesterol (p