COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DEEP-LITTER AND CAGE HOUSING SYSTEMS ON EGG PRODUCTION AND QUALITY, HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, AND SERUM METABOLITES OF WHITE LEGHORN LAYERS

Abstract:

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of deep-litter and cage housing systems on laying performance, egg quality, hematological parameters, and serum metabolites of White Leghorn layers at Haramaya University. A total of 120 White Leghorn layers at an age of 26 weeks and an average initial body weight of 1246.25± 5.65g were randomly assigned to the two housing systems in completely randomized design with three replications for study period of 90 days. The chickens were offered a weighed amount of feed, and feed refusal was collected and weighed on the next morning. The body weight of the layers was taken at the beginning and end of the experiment. All the data collected were analyzed using an independent t-test except for mortality and yolk color which were subjected to logistic regression. The results obtained indicated that feed intake of the groups placed on deep litter (104.5±2.48g) was significantly (P