CORN WITH DIFFERENT PARTICLE SIZES IN LAYING HENS FEEDING: PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY AND INTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY

Resumo

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of different particle size corn on the performance, egg quality and intestinal morphology of Hisex Brown laying hens. A total of 128 birds were used, in a completely randomized design with four treatments, four replicates and eight birds per experimental unit. Experimental rations had corn with different particle size: 565, 620, 781 and 1085 ?m of mean geometric diameter (MGD). Feeding was ad libitum at 8:00 am and 4:00 p.m. The variables analyzed were: feed consumption, laying percentage, egg mass and weight, food conversion (was calculated by dividing the feed consumed by the total egg weight (kg.kg-1) and the number of eggs produced (kg.dozen-1)), shell percentage and thickness, Haugh unit, yolk color index and morphometry analysis of the intestinal mucosa. The use of corn with MGD until to 1085 ?m in rations does not affect the performance and eggs quality of Hisex Bronw laying hens. However, there are indications that the intestinal morphometry of laying hens is negatively influenced by the increase in particle size of corn.