Reproductive activity of broiler hens subjected to restricted feeding during rearing.
Restricting the food intake of broiler hens during the rearing phase resulted in a 10% improvement in the rate of lay of hatchable eggs compared with fully fed controls. 2. The restricted hens had longer, heavier oviducts, a faster rate of growth of ovarian follicles and a greater spread of oviposition times throughout the day. 3. It is suggested that these changes may explain the persistence of improved production after compensatory weight gain, even into a second production year.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D009929:Organ Size; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010057:Oviducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010058:Oviposition; D012098:Reproduction