PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS AS AFFECTED BY AN INITIAL FEED RESTRICTION AND SUBSEQUENT REFEEDING

An experiment was conducted to examine the productive perfomtance of broiler
chicks subjected to feed restriction by feeding diets deficient in energy and protein
levels of 90% , 80% or 70% of starter recommended requirements during the second
week (8-14 days) of age as compared to those fed 100% of starter recommended
requirements. Then, birds were switched during 14-21 days of age to the control
starter diet. Seventy two day-old broiler chicks were allocated to 4 treatment groups of
18 chicks each in individual cages where every chick represents one replicate. All
treatment groups were fed the same grower and finisher diets from 22 to 37 days and
33 to 49 days of age. respectively.
The body weight gain was depressed significantly by feed restriction at the end
of the restriction period (14 days of age). However. at the age of 21 days, accelerated
growth eliminated any gap in body weight. There are significant differences in feed
conversion ratio among all treatments during the period of feed restriction. After 21
days of age, prior feed restriction had no negative effect on body weight gain neither
from 22-37 days nor from 38-49 days. Subjecting broiler chicks to early life mal
nutrition was more efficient in converting feed to gain compared to control diet. The
efficiency of energy utilization and protein utilization efficiency (PUE) improved when
the bird subjected to early energy-protien restriction and Subsequent refeeding.
Accordingly, the net profit improved compared to that of the control.
in conclusion, early feed restriction at levels of 90% . 80% or 70% of starter
recommended requirements during the period from 8 to 14 days of age could be used
in broiler diets without adverse effects on their productive performance