Effect of feed restriction on feed efficiency and incidence of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens.
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feed restriction on the incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS). Body weight, feed efficiency, and incidence of SDS were compared for broilers fed ad libitum and broilers restricted in feed intake by 25%. Six pens of 50 male broilers were fed commercial-type texture diets ad libitum, and six pens of birds were restricted to 75% of this intake from 5 to 39 days of age. Growth rate and the incidence of SDS were significantly higher in ad libitum-fed broilers. Feed efficiency was better in the ad libitum-fed group up to 11 days of age and then became similar to that of the restricted group. Results support the hypothesis that the incidence of SDS is related to growth rate and suggest that SDS mortality may be reduced by growing broilers at a slower rate.
Bowes
V A
VA
Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Canada.
Julian
R J
RJ
Leeson
S
S
Stirtzinger
T
T
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male