Egg Quality Appearance of Medium Type Layer Hens in Different Feeding Time and Protein Levels.

Abstract

Domesticated fowls, in particular the layer hens, play an important as one of the egg and meat producing fowls. The primary commodity produced by these layers composes highly nutritional value and are considered as a highly demanding commodity. This research was conducted at Housing-B of the Poultry Field Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Production, Bogor Agricultural University. The research used 162 hens of Isa Brown medium type layer, 20 weeks old which were raised at individual cages constructed completely with feeder and drinker. The aim of this research was to observe the egg quality of the Isa Brown medium type layer assigned to different feeding times and protein levels. The research used 3x3 Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three feeding time (morning at 08.00, afternoon at 18:00, and dawn at 04.00); and three different protein levels (12, 15 and 18%), treatment consisted of three replicates. Each replicate consisted of six birds. Ration was fJrmuiated iso-caloric energy (2650 Kcal/kg). The variables observed were external egg quality which consist of egg weight, entirety, translucency, egg index, shell thickness, and specific gravity; and internal egg quality which consist of Hallgh Unit, egg yolk color, and yolk and albumen weight. The result showed that here was not effect of interaction between time of feeding and protein level on the observed parameters Feeding time had significant effect on shell thickness. The protein level treatml:uts showed significantly (p<=0.05)on egg weight, shell thickness, egg yolk color, yolk and albumen weight. Based on the cleaness entirely, almost all of the eggs colected were considered clean and undamaged. Key words: feeding time, protein level, egg quality, layer medium hens.