An experiment with 588 ISA Brown layer strains was conducted to measure the
effect of dietary energy (11.8 versus 10.6 MJ/kg) and NSP (133 versus 195 g/kg)
concentration and particle size of the NSP fraction (fine versus coarse) on
eating behaviour, feather pecking behaviour and egg performance of laying hens
from 18 to 40 weeks of age.
Seven experimental diets were tested, each
replicated seven times. It is concluded that hens that were fed low energy, high
(coarsely ground) NSP diets spend more time on feed intake, compared with hens
that were fed normal energy or low NSP diets. However, these effects were not
reflected by a reduced feather pecking behaviour.
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Wageningen
University
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