Research shows that the speed at which laying hens digest starch significantly affects how efficiently they use energy from feed. A 2026 study of 360 laying hens found that fast-digesting starch was actually less efficient than medium-speed starch, with the fastest diet showing the lowest energy utilization. This suggests that feed companies should consider starch digestion kinetics when formulating chicken diets to improve efficiency and reduce feed costs.
According to Gram Research analysis, scientists studied how quickly chickens digest different types of starch and how this affects their energy use and egg production. They fed 360 laying hens four different diets with starch that digested at different speeds—from very fast to very slow. The researchers measured egg production and tracked how efficiently the hens used energy from their food. They found that medium-speed starch digestion was better than super-fast digestion, suggesting that the speed at which chickens break down starch matters more than previously thought for getting the most energy from their feed.
Key Statistics
A 2026 research article published in Poultry Science studied 360 laying hens and found that rapid starch digestion resulted in the lowest net energy to gross energy ratio, indicating reduced energy efficiency compared to medium-speed starch digestion.
According to the 2026 study of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, there was a significant mathematical relationship between starch digestion rate and energy efficiency, with an optimal range for glucose release rates that could improve net energy utilization.
The research involving 48 laying hens in respiratory calorimetry measurements revealed that fast-digesting starch diets produced the highest heat increment ratio, meaning more energy was wasted as body heat rather than being used productively.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether the speed at which chickens digest starch affects how much energy they get from their food and how many eggs they produce
- Who participated: 360 healthy Hy-Line Brown laying hens that were 35 weeks old (about 8 months), divided into four groups eating different types of starch
- Key finding: Fast-digesting starch was actually less efficient than medium-speed starch. The fastest starch diet had the lowest energy efficiency, meaning the chickens wasted more energy when starch broke down too quickly
- What it means for you: If you raise chickens or work in poultry farming, this suggests that feed companies should consider starch digestion speed when designing chicken diets to save money on feed costs. However, this research is specific to laying hens and may not apply to other types of chickens
The Research Details
Scientists divided 360 laying hens into four groups, each eating a different diet. The key difference between diets was how fast the starch (a carbohydrate from grains) would break down in the chicken’s digestive system. One diet had fast-digesting starch, one had medium-speed, one had slow-digesting, and one had resistant starch (starch that’s harder to digest). For 35 days, researchers tracked how many eggs each chicken laid and how much food they ate. In a smaller group of 48 hens, they used special equipment to measure exactly how much energy the chickens were using and how much they were storing as body tissue or eggs.
The researchers measured something called ‘starch digestion rate’—basically how quickly the starch broke down in a test tube before it even went into the chicken. They also calculated energy ratios to see how efficiently each diet converted feed into useful energy for the chicken’s body and egg production.
This type of study is important because it looks at a real-world problem: feed costs are the biggest expense in chicken farming, so understanding how to make feed more efficient saves money.
Most chicken feed evaluation systems ignore how fast starch digests. They only look at total starch content. This research suggests that the speed of digestion actually matters—it affects how much energy the chicken can actually use. If farmers can adjust starch digestion speed, they might need less total feed to get the same egg production, which saves money and resources.
This study was published in Poultry Science, a respected journal in animal agriculture. The researchers used 360 hens, which is a reasonably large sample size. They measured both practical outcomes (egg production) and precise energy measurements using specialized equipment. However, the study only looked at one breed of hen at one specific age, so results might differ for other chicken types or ages. The study was conducted in controlled conditions, which is good for accuracy but may not perfectly match real farm conditions.
What the Results Show
The fast-digesting starch diet produced the highest rate of starch breakdown in laboratory tests, but this actually led to worse energy efficiency in the chickens. The fast diet had the lowest ratio of net energy to total energy available in the feed—meaning the chickens wasted more energy when starch broke down too quickly.
Interestingly, there was a sweet spot: medium-speed starch digestion appeared to be more efficient than either very fast or very slow digestion. The researchers found a mathematical relationship showing that as starch digestion speed increased, the efficiency of energy use changed in a predictable pattern, with an optimal range somewhere in the middle.
The resistant starch diet (hardest to digest) and slow-digesting starch diets showed different patterns than the fast diet, suggesting that digestion speed significantly impacts how the chicken’s body processes energy. The study measured something called the ‘heat increment’—the energy lost as body heat during digestion—and found it was highest with the fast-digesting starch, meaning more energy was wasted as heat rather than being used productively.
While the abstract doesn’t detail specific egg production numbers, the 35-day productive performance measurements showed differences between diet groups. The respiratory calorimetry data (precise energy measurements) revealed that the relationship between starch digestion speed and energy efficiency wasn’t simple—it wasn’t just ‘slower is better’ or ‘faster is better,’ but rather there was an optimal range. This suggests that future feed formulation could target this optimal range rather than just using any starch source.
Previous research on chicken nutrition typically ignored starch digestion kinetics entirely, treating all starches as equivalent. This study is among the first to systematically examine how the speed of starch breakdown affects energy utilization in laying hens. The findings suggest that current industry standards for evaluating feed energy may be incomplete because they don’t account for digestion speed. This aligns with growing research in human nutrition showing that the glycemic index (how fast carbohydrates raise blood sugar) affects energy metabolism.
The study only tested one breed of laying hen (Hy-Line Brown) at one specific age (35 weeks), so results may not apply to other chicken breeds or younger/older birds. The study lasted only 35 days, so we don’t know if these effects continue over longer periods. The respiratory calorimetry measurements were done on only 48 hens in controlled laboratory conditions, which may not perfectly reflect how chickens digest food on actual farms. The study doesn’t explain why medium-speed digestion is better—the mechanism isn’t clear. Additionally, the practical differences in egg production between diets weren’t detailed in the abstract, so we don’t know if the energy efficiency improvements translate to meaningful production gains.
The Bottom Line
For poultry farmers and feed manufacturers: Consider incorporating starch digestion kinetics into feed formulation, targeting medium-speed digestion rates rather than using the fastest-digesting starches. This could improve feed efficiency and reduce costs. Confidence level: Moderate—this is promising research but needs confirmation in real farm settings. For consumers: This research doesn’t directly affect you unless you raise laying hens, but it may eventually lead to more efficient egg production and potentially lower prices.
Poultry farmers, feed manufacturers, and agricultural researchers should care about this finding. It’s most relevant to commercial laying hen operations where feed costs are a major expense. This research is specific to laying hens and may not apply to broiler chickens (meat birds) or other poultry. Home backyard chicken keepers would likely see minimal practical benefit from this information.
If feed companies reformulate based on this research, improvements in feed efficiency could be seen within weeks of switching to optimized starch sources. However, widespread industry adoption would likely take 1-2 years as manufacturers test and validate new formulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the speed of starch digestion affect how much energy chickens get from feed?
Yes, significantly. A 2026 study of 360 laying hens found that medium-speed starch digestion was more efficient than fast-digesting starch, which wasted more energy as heat during digestion.
What type of starch is best for laying hens?
Research suggests medium-speed digesting starch is optimal rather than very fast or very slow. The exact starch source matters because it affects how quickly the chicken’s digestive system breaks it down.
Can changing starch digestion speed reduce feed costs for chicken farmers?
Potentially yes. By using starch sources with optimal digestion rates, farmers may improve feed efficiency and reduce the amount of feed needed per dozen eggs, lowering production costs.
Does this research apply to all types of chickens?
This study specifically tested laying hens at 35 weeks old. Results may differ for broiler chickens, younger hens, or other poultry species, so more research is needed.
Want to Apply This Research?
- For poultry farmers using a nutrition app: Track daily feed consumption (in pounds or kilograms) and daily egg production (number and total weight) for each flock. Calculate feed conversion ratio (pounds of feed per dozen eggs) weekly to monitor if diet changes improve efficiency.
- If reformulating feed: Switch to starch sources with medium digestion rates (such as certain corn hybrids or processed grains) and measure feed efficiency for 2-3 weeks before and after the change to quantify any improvement.
- Establish a baseline of current feed efficiency metrics, then implement the dietary change and track the same metrics weekly for 8-12 weeks. Compare feed costs per dozen eggs before and after to determine if the change is economically beneficial.
This research is specific to laying hen nutrition and does not apply to human diet or other animal species. While the findings suggest potential improvements in poultry feed formulation, any changes to commercial chicken feeding programs should be validated through on-farm trials and consultation with poultry nutritionists. This study was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions and results may vary in real-world farm settings. Always consult with agricultural extension services or animal nutrition specialists before making significant changes to livestock feeding practices.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.