Split Feeding in laying hens: Advancing precision nutrition
A review titled "Split feeding for laying hens: a step beyond precision nutrition", published in Poultry Science, discusses the innovative feeding strategy known as split feeding, designed to optimize the nutritional management of laying hens. Traditional feeding practices often result in nutrient imbalances due to the hens’ cyclic reproductive physiology, which leads to fluctuating dietary requirements throughout the day. Split feeding addresses this challenge by providing tailored diets at different times - high in protein and energy in the morning, and rich in calcium during the afternoon and evening - thereby enhancing eggshell quality and overall laying performance.
Hens require elevated intake of protein and energy in the morning to support yolk and albumen formation, and increased calcium intake in the afternoon to facilitate eggshell development. Conventional single-diet feeding approaches may lead to nutrient excesses or deficiencies at inappropriate times, adversely affecting both hen health and egg quality. Split feeding offers a more precise nutritional strategy by aligning nutrient supply with the hens’ temporal metabolic demands.
Research and field applications have demonstrated that this method improves feed efficiency, enhances nutrient utilization, and contributes to superior eggshell quality, while also minimizing nutrient waste.
In summary, split feeding addresses the specific nutritional needs of laying hens by administering time-specific diets, ultimately resulting in improved egg quality, enhanced feed efficiency, reduced nutrient waste, and potentially extending the productive lifespan of laying hens.
