Effects of early and late skip-a-day feeding on the growth performance of male hybro broiler chickens.

摘要

A total of 480 Hybro broiler chicks, 7 days old, were fed ad libitum, or every other day for 14 days during the starter or grower period or for 28 days during the starter and grower periods, followed by full feeding to 49 days of age to examine the effects of the different treatments on growth performance. During the feed restriction period, the ad libitum birds consumed more feeds, gained more weight and were heavier than all the feed-restricted birds. Also, the 14 day feed-restricted birds consumed more feed, gained more weight and were heavier than the 28 day restricted birds. However, there were no differences in the observed parameters between the two 14 day restricted groups, except in feed intake. At the end of the realimentation period, the control birds were still heavier than all the restricted birds though the restricted birds consumed similar quantities of feed, gained more weight and utilized their feed more efficiently. The 14 day restricted birds gained more weight and were heavier than the 28 day feed restricted birds. It is suggested that feed restriction results to reduced feed intake, weight gain, body weight and mortality rate, but has no effect on feed efficiency and abdominal fat percentage.