Response of broiler chickens and turkey poults to food restriction of varied severity during early life

Abstract

1. Cobb male (7‐d‐old) and female (6‐d‐old) chicks, and BUT male and female turkeys (7‐d‐old), were subjected to food restriction of varying severity for 7, 5, 10 and 7 d, respectively. 2. The energy allowance was calculated to support from 0% to 75% of the growth rate typical of species, strain and sex. 3. In male and female broilers kept up to 56 and 50 d, respectively, a high rate of weight gain after the restriction period (refeeding period) overcame the growth retardation attributable to restriction, except in the birds which had been subjected to the most severe regimen. In the mildest regimens, body weights reached slightly higher values than those of the ad libitum‐fed controls. Overall food conversion efficiency was significantly improved in males and abdominal fat content was reduced in both sexes, regardless of the severity of restriction. 4. Body weights of male and female turkeys, aged 147 and 112 d respectively, of the groups subjected to the milder (75% growth) restriction, significantly exceeded those of the controls. Food conversion efficiency and meat yield were improved by early‐age food restriction but carcase fat was not affected. 5. The results for both species of either sex suggest that a mild food restriction applied at an age of about 1 week and allowing for 60 to 75% of normal growth, may offer an economic advanage over a continuous ad libitum feeding regimen.