Influence of Age at Lighting, Dietary Calcium, and Addition of Corn Oil on Early Egg Weight

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine the influence of time of lighting, dietary Ca level, and addition of corn oil to the diet on the performance of Hy-Line W-36 commercial laying hens. None of the three treatments significantly affected egg production (EP) except in Experiment 1 where lighting at 22 wk increased EP during Weeks 25 to 33. The addition of corn oil to the diet in both experiments increased egg weight (EW), egg mass (EM) egg content (EC), daily energy intake, energy/g EC and weight gain in experiment 2. The response to lighting hens at a later age was inconsistent. It resulted in a slight increase in EW in two experiments. There was a significant interaction of corn oil and Ca levels for EW, EC, daily energy intake, energy/g EC, and body weight gain. These interactions were a result of a greater response from corn oil in diets containing 2.9% Ca than in diets containing 3.9% Ca.