This research will identify the nutritional feeding regimen that will achieve lighter weight hens of higher feed efficiency, persistency of lay and high eggshell quality at peak lay. The feasibility of feeding pullets of different graded weights to achieve a lighter weight at peak lay will be explored. The comparability of results from hens housed in a research environment to hens housed in a commercial shed will be established.

The objectives of this project are:

• To understand the optimal diet regimen for pullets to achieve a lighter frame size with high productivity and egg shell quality at peak lay

• To compare the performance of lighter and heavier weight 18 week old pullets through to peak lay, when fed either a higher or lower nutrient density diet as they come into lay.

• To establish whether feeding a high nutrient density diet to pullets as they come into lay will optimise hen feed efficiency, productivity and eggs shell quality to 36 weeks of age.

• To compare the production and egg quality at peak lay of a sister flock held in the commercial production system, with the corresponding research flock.