Triticale and Rye as Main Ingredients in Diets for Laying Hens

Five experiments were conducted to study the effect of using triticale as replacement of half or all of the grain component in the diet of laying hens and also to study the limitations involved in trying to take full advantage of the high protein content of triticale for use in feeding laying hens. The effect of a high level of rye in the diet of hens on their rate of egg production was also studied. Attempts were also made to correct possible amino acid deficiencies of a laying hen diet containing almost all the protein from triticale. Data were collected on egg production, feed consumption, egg weight and body weight of hens fed the different diets. The results indicate that hens fed triticale at levels up to 85% of the diet produced eggs at rates comparable to those fed control diets. Rye used at a level of 80% in the diet caused a sharp decline in egg production followed by a subsequent partial recovery, seeming to indicate a toxic effect of the diet rather than a nutrient deficiency. Hens receiving diets containing over 80% triticale and low levels of fish or blood meal had production parameters that were fully equal to those of hens receiving more conventional diets. Supplements of lysine, leucine, isoleucine and their combinations failed to improve the low egg production level of hens receiving a diet in which almost all the protein was from triticale.