Laying hens management and nutrition for maximal egg production at 100 weeks of age

Abstract

In the third decade of the 21st century, starting from 2020, leading breeding companies promise that their modern hybrids of laying hens will be genetically able to produce 500 eggs per hen till 100 weeks of age. This paper discuss some important questions about what we need to know and practice in the management, and especially in the feeding of these highly sophisticated, extremely productive and very demanding birds to achieve that goal in near future. The management and nutrition strategies, needs and recommendations, dynamics of feeding during the day and during the production cycle are discussed. The maximum production results in line with genetic predisposition can be achieved by precision nutrition, as well as by maintaining and preserving the health of laying hens and the quality of egg shell with proper nutrients and specially formulated diets, but first with closer cooperation between breeders, nutritionists and egg producers.