The Effect of Feeding a Low-Protein Developer to Dwarf White Leghorn Pullets

One thousand forty-four dwarf W. L. pullets were fed a 20.9% crude protein diet from 0 to 8 weeks of age. From 8 to 18 weeks of age the pullets were fed rations containing 10.4 or 14.7% crude protein. Pullets fed the lower protein level weighed significantly less at 12, 16, 18, 28, and 64 weeks of age and consumed significantly less feed from 0 to 18 weeks of age. Feeding the lower protein level during the developing period had no significant effect on subsequent egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, mortality, or egg size distribution.