Effect of stocking density and system of management on egg production parameters

In Namakkal poultry pocket, each five commerical layer farms both in deep litter and cage system of rearing at the age group of 26 weeks, holding stock around 2020 layers were selected at random for this study. In deep litter system of rearing 2 farms were selected with proportional number of birds in each three pens with a dimension of 45′ x 22′ to match the stocking densities of 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75 square feet per bird with feeder space of 1.7″, 1.8″ and 1.9″ per bird and waterer space of 0.6″, 0.7″ and 0.8″ per bird respectively. Similarly, in cage system of rearing also, two farms were selected with proportional number of birds in each three rows with a cage dimension of 15″ x 18″ to match the stocking densities of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 square feet per bird with feeder and waterer spaces each of 3.00″, 3.75″ and 5.00″ per bird. The results revealed that in cage system, the stocking density of 0.5 square feet per bird exerted a highly significant influence on all egg production parameters except livability. In deep littersystem, the floor space of 1.50 square feet per bird was found to be superior for all egg production traits studied when compared to other two floor spaces. The housing system had exerted a highly significant influence on feed consumption, feed efficiency and body weight of which cage system showed superior results. Excepting the livability which was unaffected by the housing systems, hen day egg production, hen housed egg production and egg weight were in favour of cage system of rearing. It is concluded that, cage system of housing found to be superior to deep litter system and the stocking density of 0.5 square feet per bird in cages and 1.50 square feet per bird in deep litter system were found to be advantageous for maximum production.