Performance of Broiler Breeders on Different Feeding Systems

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted in which broiler breeders were fed either at 0800, 1300, 1600 hr, ad libitum, or at 1300 hr followed by a calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) supplement 3 hr later. The Ca-P supplement was 10.6 g/bird/day of pellets containing 5.2% P and 21.0% Ca. Experiment 1 was conducted with 64-week-old hens from July 27 to August 23. Experiment 2 was conducted with 32-week-old hens from November 5 to January 27. The birds that were fed at 1300 hr followed by Ca-P pellets at 1600 hr and those fed at 1600 hr laid eggs with higher specific gravity than did the birds fed at 0800 hr, 1300 hr, or ad libitum. The ad libitum-fed birds laid eggs with the lowest specific gravity. There were no significant differences in fertility or hatchability of fertile eggs attributed to different feeding times, although ad libitum-fed birds had lower fertility and hatchability. However, egg production was significantly higher for hens fed at 1300 hr with Ca-P pellets at 1600 hr than for birds fed ad libitum in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, ad libitum-fed birds had significantly higher egg production than birds fed at 1300 hr. However, there were no significant differences in egg production among birds fed at different times.

Performance of female broiler breeders submitted to different feeding schedules

“…Changes in feeding time affected egg production because it was observed that hens fed at the end of the day had smaller egg production. On the other hand, our findings are different from the results reported by Cave (1981), Bootwalla et al (1983), Brake (1988) and Samara et al (1996), who reported that different feeding times had no effect on egg production.…”

“…Cave (1981) and Bootwalla et al (1983) questioned if nutrient requirements are fulfilled in this feeding system. Therefore, Cave (1981) evaluated broiler breeder hens from 24 to 63 weeks of age submitted to different feeding schedules and no differences were seen for egg production.…”

Produção e qualidade de ovos em reprodutoras de frangos de corte com horário de arraçoamento diferenciado

“…Resultados semelhantes foram constatados por Bootwalla et al (1983), Farmer & Roland Sr (1983), Yannakopoulos & Tserveni-Gousi (1987) e Brake (1988. Este aumento no PESOVO pode ter decorrido da maior eficiência na utilização do alimento.…”

“…Resultados semelhantes foram constatados por Farmer & Roland Sr (1983), Bootwalla et al (1983), Brake (1985), Yannakopoulos & TserveniGousi (1987), Brake (1988) e Harms (1991b. A menor GE para ovos de reprodutoras postos e coletados de 9h e 13h, associada ao menor PESOVO, observado por Brake (1985), se assemelha aos resultados médios obtidos neste trabalho, em que se constatou aumento na GE nos ovos postos e coletados a partir de 9h, indicando que ovos coletados nas primeiras horas do dia apresentam cascas mais finas.…”

“…Salienta-se, no entanto, a importância da relação entre peso do ovo e gravidade específica, em que o peso do ovo aumenta e a gravidade específica diminui com a idade das reprodutoras. Cave (1981) e Bootwalla et al (1983) colocam em dúvida se o esquema de alimentação única pela manhã atende à demanda por nutrientes, especialmente no momento da formação da casca do ovo. Cave (1981), trabalhando com matrizes pesadas, constatou que a alimentação duas ou três vezes ao dia permitiu melhora no peso e na produção de ovos e maior eficiência na utilização do alimento.…”