Sequential feeding with variations in energy and protein levels improves gait score in meat-type chickens

Abstract

Feeding broilers by alternating different diets for 1 or 2 days is known as sequential feeding, and it possibly reduces leg problems since it slows down early growth and may enhance general activity. The present study compared continuous feeding with a standard diet (C: metabolisable energy 5 12.55 MJ/kg, crude protein 5 190 g/kg) with alternations of a high-energy/lowprotein diet (E1P2:17% ME; 220% CP) and a low-energy/high-protein diet (E2P1: 27% ME,120% CP) and investigated its effects on growth, behaviour and gait score in 352 male Ross broiler chickens. Sequential feeding was carried out during ten 48-h sequential-feeding cycles from 8 to 28 days of age. Three treatments were compared: complete diet (C) and two alternations of diets varying in protein and energy contents (S1: E1P2 followed by E2P1; and S2: E2P1 followed by E1P2). Chickens received the same feed during the starter and finisher periods (0 to 7 and 29 to 38 days of age). Body weight (BW), feed intake, general activity and gait score, bone quality and carcass conformation were measured to evaluate leg condition and general performance. Sequential feeding significantly reduced BW at 28 days of age (S1: 29.1%; S2: 23.7%/C group; P , 0.05) and S1 were lighter than S2. In both sequential groups, time spent standing increased (C: 28%; S1:33%; S2: 35%; P , 0.05) and leg abnormalities decreased (mean gait score: C: 2.61; S1: 2.45; S2: 2.38; P , 0.02). This improvement was not related to changes in bone quality. BW at slaughter was impaired in Group S1 only, and the feed conversion ratio throughout the rearing period was not significantly impaired by sequential feeding. However, abdominal fat was higher in the S2 group. Sequential feeding using diets varying in energy and crude protein can be a useful method of reducing leg problems in broilers since it improves gait score without impairing growth performance when used as early as 8 days of age and up to not less than 8 days before slaughter in order to compensate for reduced growth. This improvement can be explained by reduced early growth and enhanced motor activity. However, it appears that the low-energy diet should be given first in order to avoid a reduction in BW at slaughter.Keywords: behaviour, chicken, feed, leg problems, welfare IntroductionMany of the non-infectious disorders in poultry such as tibial dyschondroplasia and tarsal varus-valgus angulations result in abnormal gait and even lameness (Bradshaw et al., 2002;Mench, 2004). These disorders induce pain in some cases and impair birds' behavioural repertoire (McGeown et al., 1999; Danbury et al., 2000;Julian, 2004). Several approaches have been used to reduce the occurrence of these leg problems. Genetic selection has been used to reduce these diseases because susceptibility to leg problems differs between hybrids and heritability of such traits is relatively high (Kestin et al., 1992;Le Bihan-Duval et al., 1996 andKestin et al., 1999;Sanotra et al., 2003). However, there is still a need to identify suitable rearing methods to improve ...

Exploring the economic potential of reducing broiler lameness

“…(1) feed calculated to achieve 25%, 50% and 75% of the predicted growth of ad libitum birds during the restriction period). Sequential feeding using diets varying in energy and crude protein reduced the prevalence of birds with GS ≥3 from 61.3% to 42.0% without impairing growth performance (Leterrier et al, 2008). A low energy, high protein diet and a high energy, low protein diet were rotated every 48 h from d 8 to d 28 or up to no fewer than 8 d before slaughter.…”

“…k Feed conversion was assumed to decrease by 1% and the final body weight was assumed to decrease by 5% compared to the conventional situation (Su et al, 1999). Feed conversion rate was assumed to be 1.71 for a production period of 38 d (Leterrier et al, 2008). Final body weight was recalculated for a production period of 38 d, i.e.…”

“…e An improvement of 8% in GS is assumed compared to the conventional practice (Su et al, 1999). f An improvement of 31.5% is assumed in the prevalence of birds with a GS ≥3 (Leterrier et al, 2008). g An improvement of 0.51% in GS by increasing dietary feed with 30% (Knowles et al, 2008).…”

Essential oils and their use in animal feeds for monogastric animals - Effects on feed quality, gut microbiota, growth performance and food safety: a review

“…In addition, improved nitrogen digestibility elicited by EOs (Cao et al 2010;Amerah et al 2011) can also impact gut microbiota and litter quality, and thereby affect foot pad and gait scores (Leterrier et al 2008;Sirri and Meluzzi 2012).…”

An automated positioning system for monitoring chickens’ location: Effects of wearing a backpack on behaviour, leg health and production

“…In addition to a possible effect on behaviour, outfitting a bird with a backpack and tag may compromise leg health, especially in broiler chickens which are already prone to pathologies such as lameness and foot pad dermatitis (Knowles et al, 2008;De Jong et al, 2012). Reduced mobility may lead to a poorer leg health and gait (Leterrier et al, 2008;Aguado et al, 2015) and to poorer cleanliness due to more contact with wet litter which could in turn cause hock and foot pad dermatitis (Ekstrand et al, 1997;Kyvsgaard et al, 2013). Impaired mobility may also cause the birds to eat less.…”