Effects of a qualitative feed restriction strategy on the growth performance and feed cost of mature broiler chicken

Abstract

Early growth retardation in broiler chicks induces an accelerated growth known as compensatory growth, which results in final body weights equal or even exceeding that of the birds fed adlibitum. Objective of this study was to determine whether relatively mature broiler chicken posses die compensatory growth capacity after a qualitative feed restriction period (RF) and, to determine the effects of such a feeding strategy on growth performance and feed cost of mature broiler chicken. Thirty four days old broiler chicken (n=80) were allocated into twenty cages and the cages were randomly allocated into four dietary regimens. The dietary regimens were; 1) feeding of commercial broiler finisher diet (CF) from day 35 to 49, 2) feeding of above CF and a mixture of soy bean meal/mai2e meal 1:1 (SMI 1) in alternate days from 35-40 followed by ad libitum feeding of same CF until day 49,3) same as regimen 2 except the use of soy bean meal/maize meal 1:2 mixture (SMI 2) between 35-40 d and 4) same as dietary regimen 2 except for the use of soy bean meal/maize meal 2:1 mixture (SM21) from 35-40 d. The total CF intake of the birds subjected to RF was significantly (pgrowth retardation in broiler chicks induces an accelerated growth known as compensatory growth, which results in final body weights equal or even exceeding that of the birds fed adlibitum. Objective of this study was to determine whether relatively mature broiler chicken posses die compensatory growth capacity after a qualitative feed restriction period (RF) and, to determine the effects of such a feeding strategy on growth performance and feed cost of mature broiler chicken. Thirty four days old broiler chicken (n=80) were allocated into twenty cages and the cages were randomly allocated into four dietary regimens. The dietary regimens were; 1) feeding of commercial broiler finisher diet (CF) from day 35 to 49, 2) feeding of above CF and a mixture of soy bean meal/mai2e meal 1:1 (SMI 1) in alternate days from 35-40 followed by ad libitum feeding of same CF until day 49,3) same as regimen 2 except the use of soy bean meal/maize meal 1:2 mixture (SMI 2) between 35-40 d and 4) same as dietary regimen 2 except for the use of soy bean meal/maize meal 2:1 mixture (SM21) from 35-40 d. The total CF intake of the birds subjected to RF was significantly