Preference of laying hens for different protein sources in a cafeteria type feeding system

Abstract

Laying hens (29-wk old) had access to a basal diet and one of full-fat soybeans, fish meal or blood meal during a 6-week trial to investigate their preference for different protein sources. There was no effect of the dietary  treatment on egg production, egg weight or mortality mte (P>0.05). However, weight loss was different (P<0.05) among the treatments with the largest body weight loss observed in birds offered blood meal.