The influence of body weight at point-of-lay on the production responses of restricted-reared pullets

The food intake, age at sexual maturity, egg weight and daily egg mass output of pullets fed on a time restriction basis during growth were significantly influenced by body weight at 21 weeks of age. Egg production was not affected significantly when 21-week body weight varied between 1.3 and 1.8 kg. It is suggested that one of the major factors influencing the performance of a pullet flock during lay is the number of birds of abnormally low body weight present at the end of the growing period.