title: Free availability of high-energy foods led to energy over-ingestion and protein under-ingestion in choice-fed broilers.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare energy and protein content of the diet selected by choice-fed broilers with that of broilers fed a balanced diet. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned in groups of 10 to one of three experimental treatments (n = 6). Control broilers were fed a standard balanced diet, whereas choice-fed broilers were fed three foods which were more concentrated (Choice C+ treatment) or less concentrated (Choice C- treatment) in protein, carbohydrate or fat. We evaluated food intake behavior, nutrient intake, and performance parameters of broilers from 2 to 7 weeks of age. Choice C+ broilers showed enhanced preference for the high-fat food, which led to higher energy intake and lower protein intake than those of control broilers at 2 to 4 weeks of age. Body weight, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were negatively affected by diet selection of Choice C+ broilers. Choice C- broilers selected a balanced diet, and showed performance parameters similar to those of control broilers. Our results supported the hypothesis that free availability of high-energy foods bias ingestive behavior of choice-fed broilers toward selecting a diet with higher energy and lower protein than needed for normal growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, South National University, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.|Center of Natural Renewable Resources of the Semiarid Zone (CERZOS), National Scientific and Technological Research Council of Argentina, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catanese
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, South National University, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Ganduglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, South National University, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.|Center of Natural Renewable Resources of the Semiarid Zone (CERZOS), National Scientific and Technological Research Council of Argentina, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7745-0769
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Distel
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: choice feeding; diet selection; high-energy foods; ingestive behavior; nutritional balance