Desempenho e qualidade de ovos de poedeiras da linhagem Embrapa 051 submetidas a diferentes programas alimentares

Abstract

Embrapa 051 is a hybrid strain of laying hens specialized in the production of brown eggs. This study evaluated the performance and egg quality of the Embrapa 051 laying hens in comparison to a commercial strain (Lohmann Brown), reared in a semi-intensive system with different feeding programs. A completely randomized block design was used. The treatments were: T1 - Lohmann Brown fed 100% of the basal diet; T2 - Embrapa 051 fed 93% of the basal diet; T3 - Embrapa 051 fed 100% of the basal diet; and T4 - Embrapa 051 fed 107% of the basal diet. There were five replicates per treatment. The basal diet was designed according to the Lohmann Brown manual. The following performance variables were measured: egg weight, egg production, feed conversion per dozen eggs, energy conversion, egg mass, lot uniformity, and lot viability. Additionally, internal (Haugh unit, yolk color, yolk percentage, yolk weight and albumen percentage) and external (specific gravity, shell percentage and shell thickness) egg quality were measured. No significant difference among treatment means for viability and lot uniformity was observed. On the other hand, all the other performance variables presented significant differences in the three cycles evaluated, with the Lohmann Brown lineage showing the highest values. Regarding the variables of internal and external egg quality, only the yolk percentage and the albumen percentage presented a significant difference between the treatments in all cycles. Eggs produced by the Embrapa 051 lineage had the highest percentages of yolk and those of the Lohmann Brown lineage showed the highest percentage of albumen. In conclusion, Embrapa 051 lineage has the potential to produce good quality eggs, as long as it receives the same feeding program of the genetically established lineage.