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IS MASH STILL PREFERRED FOR LAYERS?
There is a school of thought that says that because layers are not primarily raised to gain weight, they are slow fed and must not be allowed to stay out of feed for too long. This school of though therefore believes that because pellets are easily digestible, pelleted feed is not so ideal for layers as it prolongs their period of empty crop.
Has anyone heard about this and is it a claim that can be supported with facts?
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65 Replies
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There are two main aspects to consider when pelleting layer feed. One is the increased cost of pelleting and perhaps the main reason to feed layers a mash diet. The other reason may have to do with the high inclusion of limestone (i.e., calcium source), coarse limestone and the ability to pellet such diets as well as the effect of such high abrasive diets (i.e., high limestone content) on the pellet mill dye useful life. I will yield to Dr. Koch @feed-doctorgmail-com to comment on the effect of pelleting laying diets on pelleting ability, pellet durability index, and pellet mill dye useful life.
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Jeffery has it correct. It does cost money to pellet and that cost as Jeffery suggests may outweigh any benefit in layer performance – it is also true that any diet not just layer diets that is high in the inclusion of limestone, especially coarse limestone, and phosphorus will have a very negative affect on pellet die holes due to the abrasion, reducing the life expectancy of the die – the increased friction will also increase energy use increasing overall production cost.
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👍
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Good
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noted
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Well discussed. 🕊️
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well
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Good.Good.
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thank you
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👏
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GOOD
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Tnq
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👍
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Great
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A high quality layer feed (protein 16-18%) will suffice and obviate the need for supplementation . The choice of pellets, crumbles, or mash is left up to your chickens. Offer all and watch which is preferred
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