Abstract
Balanced (isonitrogenous and isocaloric) diets containing from 0 to 35% dried cane molasses rum distillery slops were compared using individually caged White Leghorn hens of the Kimber strain. When production and feed utilization were compared, a stepwise decrease, more pronounced with levels above 20%, was evident with increases in the slops content of the diets. Eggs were permanently stained and hens markedly soiled when consuming diets with levels of dry slops higher than 15%. Averages of egg weight, hen weight, broken-open egg height (inner quality), and shell thickness were not affected by levels of dry slops as high as 35% in the diets. The high levels of K, Mg, and SO4 present in the experimental diets did not affect the calcium metabolism involved in shell formation.