200 experimental Bovan Nera pullets had initial 14-day unrestricted feeding allowing for the estimation of ad libitum feeding for each bird. Five different feeding regimens were established based on the initial ad libitum intakes. Regimen 1 was applied to pullets ad libitum; regimen 2 was 90% of ad libitum intake; regimen 3 was 80% of ad libitum intake; regimen 4 was 70% of ad libitum intake and regimen 5 was 60% of ad libitum intake. Average hen day production (HDP, %) was highest at 89.55% for birds on the unrestricted diet 1 but similar (P>0.05) to 80.00% obtained for birds on 90% of ad libtium intake. Other HDP values for birds on 60%, 70% and 80% of ad libitum intakes were similar (P>0.05) at 51.35%, 61.83% and 63.49%, respectively. Most internal and external egg characteristics were similar (P>0.05). Egg weight ranged between 53.05g+3.03 and 55.54g+4.18; average egg diameter ranged between 4.53cm+0.07 and 4.61cm+0.08. The average egg height, egg shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit, yolk weight, albumen height, yolk colour and yolk height had similar values (P>0.05). Feed restriction at 80% and 90% of ad libitum intake had a comparative advantage over unrestricted feeding for laying Bovan Nera pullets.
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