title: Quantitative and qualitative feed restriction on growth characteristics of male broiler chickens.
abstract: Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative feed restriction on the performance of male broiler chickens. In the first experiment, broilers fed identical pelleted diets were feed-restricted from 5 to 42 d by giving 95, 90, or 85% of the feed consumed ad libitum by control birds the previous day. In a second experiment, broilers were fed pellet or mash diets from 1 to 7 wk. In Experiments 3 and 4, broilers were feed-restricted to 90% of the ad libitum intake of a control group during different intervals. Results from Experiment 1 indicated that live body weight at 42 d was significantly different between unrestricted and restricted broilers (P < 0.01). A reduction in mortality was noted when feed intake was reduced (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, broilers fed mash had lower body weights and breast meat yields at 42 and 49 d (P < 0.05). Cumulative mortality at 42 and 49 d was reduced in broilers fed mash (P < 0.05). Results from Experiment 3 indicated that body weight and mortality were not significantly different (P > 0.05) at 42 d across treatments. There was a significant (P < 0.01) linear improvement on feed conversion at 42 d due to duration of feed restriction. Breast meat yield at 42 d was less in broilers subjected to mild feed restriction (P > 0.05) (Experiments 3 and 4). Broilers appeared able to recover from mild feed restriction, and there was always an associated reduction in mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urdaneta-Rincon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leeson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D010316:Particle Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain