H. Kermanshahi - Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box
H. L. Classen - Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S۷N ۰W۰.

A ۳*۲*۲ factorial experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding whole wheat (۰, ۱۰, and ۲۰%), a microbial enzyme source (Arabino-xylanase based enzyme for wheat at ۰% and ۰.۱%) and ۰% or ۱% insoluble grit (number ۳ layer size) on the performance of White Leghorn hens at ۱۹ to ۵۴ weeks of age. Each dietary treatment was replicated four times with ten hens, housed two to a cage, each. No main treatment effects or interactions were observed for egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight, body weight gain, or mortality. Feeding ۲۰% whole wheat produced the lowest incidence of cracked, broken, or soft shelled eggs. Adding the enzyme significantly (P<۰.۰۵) reduced daily feed intake from ۱۲۴.۶ to ۱۲۲.۲ g. Enzyme addition also resulted in minor, but significant (P<۰.۰۵), increases in egg specific gravity from ۱.۰۸۰۰ to ۱.۰۸۰۶. Inclusion of ۲۰% whole wheat does not adversely affect the productivity of White Leghorn hens and therefore can be used to reduce the cost of feed processing.

Enzyme, Grit, Processing, White Leghorn, Whole wheat