Figure 2. Layer feeding phases – rearing period
      
      
        Each diet is adapted tomeet the precise 
      
      
        requirement of the rearing hen in a specifc period. 
      
      
        During the frst phase the prestarter ProGress 
      
      
        is fed at a rate of 100g/bird. In the following 
      
      
        phases (starter, grower, developer and prelay) full 
      
      
        concentrates, concentrates or premixes are used, 
      
      
        depending on your system.
      
      
        The frst 10weeks are very of vital  importance for 
      
      
        the development of the basic body. After 10weeks 
      
      
        the basic body is still developing, but there is a risk 
      
      
        of non-functional fat deposition, so the diet must 
      
      
        bemodifed tomatch the bird’s  requirements. 
      
      
        After 17 weeks the reproductive tract is developing 
      
      
        and the bird is preparing for laying, so nutrient 
      
      
        levels are increased to properly support the 
      
      
        development of the laying apparatus.
      
      
        The prestarter ProGress is supportedby feld trials 
      
      
        carried out by Provimi. Results showthat by feeding 
      
      
        ProGress at a rate of 100g/bird the birds develop 
      
      
        well and there is better uniformity of the fock 
      
      
        during rearing aswell as during production. This in 
      
      
        turn improves the transition to other diets in the 
      
      
        programand results in improved egg production.
      
      
        Provimi LayingPeriod (20weeks – end)
      
      
        Provimi splits the laying period into four phases 
      
      
        as shown in Figure 3; layer start, phase I, phase II 
      
      
        andphase III. The start phase diet is high in amino 
      
      
        acids, phosphorus, linoleic acid and energy. The 
      
      
        maindifference inphase I, II and III is an increasing 
      
      
        calcium level in the feed and the additionof 
      
      
        Provimax from50weeks. In these phases full 
      
      
        concentrates, concentrates or premixes are used 
      
      
        depending on your system. Provimax canbe added 
      
      
        either in the concentrate or as a separate additive.
      
      
        Figure 3. Layer feeding phases – laying period
      
      
        It is important to offer extra support to the laying 
      
      
        hen during the frst weeks of egg production. 
      
      
        As shown in Figure 4, production starts up very 
      
      
        rapidly, although the feed intake is still limited. 
      
      
        Furthermore, the bird is not fullymature and 
      
      
        her body weight is still increasing (functional 
      
      
        bodyweight gain). So from20 to 25weeks the daily 
      
      
        nutrient requirement of the laying hen is high, and 
      
      
        feed intake capacity is limited, so Provimi advises 
      
      
        a special layer start feedwith higher amino acid 
      
      
        and energy levels, increased phosphorus andmore 
      
      
        linoleic acid.
      
      
        Figure 4.   Pattern of laying percentage, maturation, 
      
      
        
      
      
         body weight and feed intake of laying hens
      
      
        
      
      
         (15 weeks onwards)
      
      
        After 25 weeks Provimi recommends three 
      
      
        diets with increasing calcium levels. Amino acid 
      
      
        requirements per hen per day are determined by 
      
      
        the market requirements, whether a maximum 
      
      
        number of eggs are required, maximum egg mass 
      
      
        or maximum egg weight. From 50 weeks onwards 
      
      
        Provimax is added to improve eggshell quality and 
      
      
        stimulate laying persistency.
      
      
        Conclusion 
      
      
        Provimi will workwith you to develop an excellent 
      
      
        tailor made nutritional programthat can achieve 
      
      
        optimal production results. Provimi takes into 
      
      
        account all conditions andmanagement systems 
      
      
        such as the breed, housing, available rawmaterials  
      
      
        and the production goals of the particular unit. 
      
      
        Therefore, every nutritional program is custom 
      
      
        made. Using our premixes, concentrates and other 
      
      
        Provimi products in the Power Layer Program, we 
      
      
        will help tomaximise your fock’s performance and 
      
      
        proftability. 
      
      
        P.O. Box 5063                     3008 AB Rotterdam
      
      
        T + 31 (0)10 423 95 00    F + 31 (0)10 484 56 24
      
      
        E info@provimi.nl           I www.provimi.nl
      
      
        Age (weeks) 0        1 
      
      
                    6 
      
      
                     11                     17       19
      
      
        
          PS = Prestarter ProGress (100g/bird)
        
      
      
        Phase
      
      
         Starter Grower Developer Prelay
      
      
         PS
      
      
        Age (weeks) 20          25              35 
      
      
                                   50     
      
      
             end
      
      
        Phase
      
      
        Layer
      
      
        Phase I
      
      
        Layer
      
      
        PhaseII
      
      
        Layer
      
      
        Phase II
      
      
        incl. Provimax
      
      
        Layer
      
      
        start
      
      
        Maturation
      
      
        Body weight
      
      
        (weeks)
      
      
        15
      
      
         19
      
      
         25
      
      
         35
      
      
         45
      
      
         55
      
      
        Feed intake
      
      
        Laying-%