Recent trends in commercial layer farming is changing the production trends worldwide. The
commercial layer farming in Pakistan is shifting from open or semi controlled floor farms to
modern automatic controlled caged farms. These cage farms are megastructure having capacity of
huge bird rearing, due to large house dimensions the environment of house not remain uniform
throughout the house and difference in light intensity, air speed, temperature and humidity
horizontally and vertically have significant impacts on overall performance of layers. House and
cage zones in environment controlled house may influence productive performance, egg
characteristics and immune response in commercial layers. For this purpose, a total of 588 birds
arranged according to completely randomized design and divided in three house zones (Near pads,
middle and near fans) and four tier levels (Lower, Bottom, Middle, Upper) being replicated 6 times
with 9 birds in each cage. These birds were placed in ECO-60 caged house (4×4) having 9 birds
in each pen. These performance of birds were compared for differences in production performance,
egg geometry, egg quality and immune profile. Data were analyzed through factorial ANOVA
using PROC GLM in SAS software, means were compared through Duncan’s Multiple Range test.
The highest weigh gain was observed in birds reared near the pad zone followed by the birds reared
near middle and fan zone. Similarly, better egg production was found in the birds reared near
evaporative cooling pads and middle zone as compared to the birds reared near the fan zone. To
this end, better egg mass was found in the birds reared near pad and middle zone as compared to
the birds reared near the fan zone. FCR / kg egg mass was found in the birds reared near pad and
middle zone as compared to the birds reared near the fan. Regarding Infectious Bronchitis (IB), Avian
Influenza (H9), Avian Influenza (H7), Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG), Newcastle (ND),
difference in titters was observed among the birds of different housing zones and their interaction.
CHAPTER 6
SUMMARY
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However, no significant effect of house zones, tier cage levels and their interaction was observed
regarding egg characteristics and immune response.
Conclusions
From the discussion in the previous chapter it can be concluded that:
 In modern environment control layer house, different house zones influence productive
performance of the birds, especially near the pad zone birds exhibited improve body weight
and better production %. In the same way, birds reared near the middle zone showed better
egg mass, FCR / dozen eggs and FCR / Kg egg mass.
 Among different house zones and tier cage levels, temperature, relative humidity and
thermal index varied throughout the experimental period.
 Birds reared neat the pad zone at central tier had better body weight, while, better
production % exhibited by the birds reared near the middle zone at lower cage tier.
However, birds reared near pad zone at bottom cage tier revealed better FCR/dozen eggs
and / kg egg mass.
 Different cage tier levels did not influence productive performance, egg characteristics and
immune response of commercial layers.
 Improved immune response was shown by the birds reared in middle zone of the house as
compared to pad and fan zone while tier level did not influenced the antibody titer.
Suggestions and Recommendation
 Behavioral studies are required to observe the response of bird at micro climate.
 Further investigations are needed to fulfill the welfare issues of commercial layer.
 Researchers should come forward to explore the alternative housing system of commercial
layer.