Effects of strain and different skip-a-day feed restriction periods on the growth performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

The effects of 6, 10 and 14 days of skip-a-day feed removal during the starter and grower periods on the growth performance of Ross 308 and Hubbard broiler chickens were studied in a 49-day production period. Ross 308 was superior to Hubbard in weight gain, market weight and feed utilization but consumed more feed, deposited more abdominal fat and had a higher mortality rate. Overall, feed removal improved feed efficiency, had insignificant effects on abdominal fatness and mortality rate and reduced feed intake, weight gain and market weight. On each restricted-feeding regime, the birds gained as much weight as their fully fed counterparts during the period of resumed full feeding but were unable to compensate fully for the weight loss and were lighter at the end of the trial. It is suggested that for profitable broiler production under tropical conditions, Ross 308 and skip-a-day feed removal for less than 6 days from 7 to 17 days of age be considered.

Responses of two broiler chicken strains to early-age skip-a-day feed restriction in a semi-arid subtropical environment

“…The higher feed intake, faster growth and heavier market weight of Ross 308 than Hubbard during the postrestriction period despite the similarity in feed conversion ratio suggests that Ross 308 is superior to Hubbard in post-restriction growth rate and final body weight but needs more feed to maintain this superiority as suggested by the positive genetic correlations among feed intake, growth rate and body weight. The superiority of Ross 308 over Hubbard in these traits has also been reported in an earlier study by Benyi et al (2011). Also, the fact that the birds whose feeding times were reduced by 4 and 6 days converted feed more efficiently, gained more weight than the ad libitum controls and had similar 49-day weights as the controls suggests that the 4-and 6-day feed-restricted birds had compensatory growth during realimentation.…”

“…This suggests that genotype × environment interaction measured in this study as strain × feeding regime interaction may have important influences on mature body weight and probably weight gain but not on other traits. Benyi et al (2011) reported significant strain × feeding regime interactions effects on 35-day weight, weight gain and feed intake. The significant differences between the strains in feed intake, growth rate and market weight during the entire study period have been previously reported (Rosa et al, 2007) but other authors such as Dozier et al (2003) reported insignificant differences among strains of broilers in response to skip-a-day feed restriction.…”

“…In our case, birds whose feeding time was reduced by 4 or 6 days between 7 and 21 days of age were able to recover the weight losses incurred during the period of feed restriction and have the same market weights as their counterparts which were fed ad libitum throughout this study. Benyi et al (2011) reported that 6 days of feed withdrawal during the starter period was not too devastating to the birds and allowed them enough time to regain the weight losses incurred during restriction but birds that were deprived of feed every other day for 10 or 14 days could not recover the weight losses.…”

Intestinal microbiota of broilers submitted to feeding restriction and its relationship to hepatic metabolism and fat mass: Fast‐growing strain

“…Feed restriction programmes were initially used to reduce the incidence of infectious, metabolic and skeletal disorders that result from the high growth rate of broilers (Benyi, Acheampong‐Boateng, & Norris, ; Lee & Leeson, ). It was also used as an alternative method to decrease broiler mortality in high temperature conditions.…”

The effect of limiting feeding time by three and six hours per day during the starter period on broiler performance

“…The results of the overall performance also agree with the findings of Urdaneta-Ricon and Lesson (2002), Dozier et al (2002Dozier et al ( , 2003, and Khajali et al (2007) who stated that broiler chickens are able to compensate for loss of weight resulting from short periods of feed restriction at early age, and do not follow the findings of De Silva and Kalubowila (2012) who found significant reduction in body weight at 42 days old after 3 h fasting per day from 21 to 42 days old. The in significant differences in overall performance between the control and fasted birds is supported by the findings of Navidshad et al (2006), Mohebodini et al (2009) and Benyi et al (2011). Acheampong-Boateng et al (2012) found that feed restriction birds could not recover from the slow growth during restriction and they were lighter than the control group.…”