Estimated Daily Protein Requirements of Laying Hens

Six experimental diets varying in protein content from 10.0 to 19.5% were fed to pullets in colony cages for a period of 36 weeks. The data were divided into three phases of 12 weeks for the purpose of evaluating the protein requirements. During each of the three phases a diet containing 14.6% protein was calculated to produce the optimum response in egg production and egg output. The calculated daily protein needs of the laying hens in this study was found to be 17.05, 17.84 and 14.94 gm. per day for the three phases to support egg production levels of 83.6, 78.1 and 69.3%, respectively. For the entire 36 weeks of the experiment 14.6% dietary protein was adequate to support an egg production rate of 77% at an average protein intake of 16.54 gm. per hen per day.