The study compared the performance of layers in conventional cages versus enhanced cages in India, using 120 BV-300 strain layers. Results indicated that layers in conventional cages laid more eggs, had a higher egg mass, and lower feed consumption compared to those in enhanced cages, which also had a higher incidence of broken eggs and mortality. The overall findings suggest that conventional cages provide better performance metrics for egg production in this context.

1. Comparative study of performance
of layers housed in conventional
and enhanced cages in India
Prof. Dr. Ajit S. Ranade
H. O.D. & University Head
Department of Poultry Science
Bombay Veterinary College
Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University

2. Experimental Design
• Place : Department of Poultry Science,
Bombay Veterinary College,
Parel, Mumbai – 400 012, MS, India.
• 120 layers of BV-300 strain – Age 25 weeks.
• Two groups of 60 birds each
• Group A - Housed in the conventional three tier
California cages in six cage compartments of five birds
each.
• Group B - Housed in the enhanced cages as entire
group in the one cage.

3. Conventional Cages

4. Enhanced Cages

5. Details of Cages & Space Allotment
Particulars
Conventional Cages Enriched Cages
60 Birds 60 Birds
One Cage Compartment
Length (Inches) 20 Inches 508 mm 148 Inches 3750 mm
Effective depth
(Inches)
15 Inches 381 mm 49 Inches 1250 mm
Height at back
(Inches)
13 Inches 330.2 mm 18 Inches 450 mm
Height at front
(Inches)
15.5
Inches
393.7 mm 20.5 Inches 520 mm
Birds per box 5 60
Space per bird
60 Sq.
Inches
450 Sq.
cm
121 Sq.
Inches
781 Sq.
cm

6. Egg Production (No.)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 342 332
2 401 401
3 424 402
4 411 408
5 419 398
6 412 402
7 406 390
8 416 389
9 414 391
10 402 391
11 398 379
12 404 400
13 385 337
14 380 263
15 357 346
16 370 359
17 383 374
18 381 370
19 376 362
20 372 361
Total 7853 7455
Mean 392.65a 372.75b

7. Egg Mass (Kg)
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 17.45 14.81
2 21.15 21.19
3 22.83 21.55
4 22.76 22.34
5 23.17 22.38
6 22.95 22.54
7 22.76 22.17
8 23.27 22.20
9 23.41 22.27
10 22.48 22.39
11 22.42 21.74
12 22.64 22.84
13 21.27 19.13
14 17.36 14.76
15 19.86 18.94
16 20.58 19.95
17 20.73 20.07
18 20.65 19.94
19 19.75 20.17
20 19.98 19.73
Total 427.48 411.10
Mean 21.37a 20.55b
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage

8. Broken Eggs ( No.)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 0 3
2 0 9
3 0 1
4 0 6
5 2 9
6 1 13
7 3 4
8 3 4
9 3 0
10 0 8
11 4 3
12 1 5
13 2 16
14 4 26
15 2 5
16 1 0
17 2 2
18 2 5
19 0 0
20 4 8
Total 34 127
Mean 1.70a 6.35b

9. Total Feed
Consumption (kg)
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 32.95 31.10
2 43.18 44.29
3 44.52 44.91
4 45.00 46.29
5 44.71 46.07
6 44.42 44.44
7 45.42 45.26
8 46.36 46.84
9 46.77 48.05
10 44.79 46.79
11 47.33 45.79
12 46.77 46.42
13 46.26 42.81
14 42.00 39.89
15 40.75 38.73
16 44.04 43.89
17 45.90 43.23
18 46.00 39.02
19 43.20 36.96
20 41.88 34.97
Total 882.24 855.73
Mean 44.11a 42.79b

10. Feed Consumption
Per Bird Per Day (g)
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
140.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 91.53 87.86
2 102.82 107.23
3 105.99 108.73
4 107.14 112.08
5 106.45 113.47
6 105.76 109.45
7 108.15 111.47
8 110.37 115.37
9 111.35 118.35
10 106.64 115.24
11 112.69 112.78
12 111.35 116.33
13 110.13 107.30
14 103.44 101.76
15 100.38 98.79
16 108.46 111.97
17 113.04 110.28
18 113.30 99.54
19 106.40 94.29
20 103.15 90.83
Total 2138.54 2143.12
Mean 106.93 107.16

11. FCR on Egg
Number Basis
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 1.16 1.12
2 1.29 1.33
3 1.26 1.34
4 1.31 1.36
5 1.28 1.39
6 1.29 1.33
7 1.34 1.39
8 1.34 1.44
9 1.36 1.47
10 1.34 1.44
11 1.43 1.45
12 1.39 1.39
13 1.44 1.52
14 1.64 1.82
15 1.37 1.34
16 1.43 1.47
17 1.44 1.39
18 1.45 1.27
19 1.38 1.23
20 1.35 1.16
Mean 1.36 1.38
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage

12. FCR on Egg Mass
Basis
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 1.89 2.10
2 2.04 2.09
3 1.95 2.08
4 1.98 2.07
5 1.93 2.06
6 1.94 1.97
7 2.00 2.04
8 1.99 2.11
9 2.00 2.16
10 1.99 2.09
11 2.11 2.11
12 2.07 2.03
13 2.17 2.24
14 2.42 2.70
15 2.05 2.04
16 2.14 2.20
17 2.21 2.15
18 2.23 1.96
19 2.19 1.83
20 2.10 1.77
Mean 2.07 2.09
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Conventional cage Enhanced cage

13. Mortality (No.)
Weeks Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
1 0 1
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
5 0 1
6 0 0
7 0 0
8 0 0
9 0 0
10 0 0
11 0 0
12 0 1
13 0 0
14 2 1
15 0 0
16 0 0
17 0 0
18 0 0
19 0 0
20 0 1
Total 2 5
Percentage 3.33 8.33
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Conventional cage
Enhanced cage

14. Overall Performance of Layers
Parameters Conventional Cage Enhanced Cage
No. of layers at the start of the trial
60 60
No. of layers at the end of 20 weeks
58 55
Mortality (No.) 2 5
Mortality (%) 3.33 8.33
Total eggs produced (No.)
7853 7455
Total egg mass produced (kg)
427.48 411.10
Total broken eggs (No.)
34 127
Broken eggs (%) 0.43 1.70
Total feed consumption (kg)
882.24 855.73
Feed consumption per bird per day (g)
106.93 107.16
FCR on egg number basis
1.35 1.38
FCR on egg mass basis
2.06 2.08

15. Overall Performance
• Layers housed in conventional cages produced significantly
higher number of egg with higher egg mass than the layers
housed in enhanced cages.
• Significantly more number of broken eggs were found in the
enhanced cages than the conventional cages.
• Layers in conventional cages also consumed marginally lower
feed as compared to the layers housed in enhanced cages.
• Layers in conventional cages recorded marginally better feed
conversion ratio on egg number as well as on egg mass basis
as compared to layers housed in enhanced cages.
• Mortality is higher in enhanced cages as compared to
conventional cages.

16. Other Observations
•The number of soiled eggs were much higher in enhanced
cages than conventional cages.
•The eggs get soiled or broken as eggs get collected in and near
the nest boxes provided in the enhanced cages
•The layers show the tendency to spoil cage mats, which are
required to be replaced every 3-4 weeks.

17. Economics for 20 Weeks
Parameter
Conventional
cage Enhanced cage
Savings of
Conventional caged
over Enhanced caged
layers
Mortality (No.) 2 5 + 3
Cost of mortality @ Rs.
200/- per pullet Rs. 400/- Rs. 1000/-
Rs. 600/-
Total eggs produced
(No.) 7853 7455
+ 398
Cost of eggs produced
@ Rs. 3.50/- per egg Rs. 27485.50/- Rs. 26092.50/-
Rs. 1393/-
Total broken eggs (No.) 34 127 + 93
Cost of broken eggs @
Rs. 3.50/- per egg Rs. 119/- Rs. 444.50/-
Rs. 325.50/-
Total feed consumption
(kg) 882.24 855.73
- 26.51
Feed cost @ Rs. 27/-
per kg Rs. 23820.48/- Rs. 23104.71/-
- Rs. 715.77/-
Total + Rs. 1602.73/-

18. Conclusion
• The trial is ongoing.