Performance of Isa-Brown layers as affected by addition of two dietary levels of choline chloride

ABSTRACT

A large-scale field study was carried out on 21000 Isa-Brown layers to investigate the effects of choline supplementation on their performance. Choline chloride was added at two levels [0.05% and 0.1%] to a basal layer ration based on corn-soybean meal. The recorded data indicated an increase in egg production, egg weight and an improved efficiency of food utilization for egg production in layers receiving supplemental choline with better results in those receiving 0.1% of added choline chloride. On the other h and, the egg shell quality parameters did not significantly influenced by choline supplementation. This work supports the necessity for choline supplementation in diets based on corn-soybean meal for laying hens. It was suggested that choline requirement for optimum performance in laying hens might be higher than 1300 mg choline/kg of such diets and in the absence of supplemental methionine