The effect of different methods of force molting on performance and egg quality of laying hens

This experiment conducted to evaluate the effect of different methods of force molting on performance, egg quality of laying hens with one hundred eighty of 52-wk old Hy-line layer in completely randomized design with six treatments, five replicates for 90 days. Treatments include 1 - feed withdrawal (FW), 2 - 50 percent alfalfa meal: 50 percent layer ration, 3 - 75 percent alfalfa meal: 25 percent layer ration, 4 - 100 percent alfalfa meal, 5 - whole barley grain (WBG) and 6 - high level of zinc oxide (20000 ppm) that were used for 10 days. The highest percentage of weight loss was observed in FW and zinc oxide groups (P