The effects of alternative feeding strategies for broiler breeders

Arrazola A., Mosco E., Widowski T.M., Guerin M.T. and Torrey S.

The effect of feed restriction on mortality of broiler breeders

Katanbaf et al., 1989

Ad libitum

Feed restricted

Week 131758 g.

Commercial feed restriction program

HungerFrustration

Lack of satiety

Stereotypies F&O Pecking Overdrinking

Commercial feeding

programs

Control growth

rate

Feed restriction

> 43% of ad libitum feed intake

Feeding strategies to increase feed intake

Reduce feed quality Addition of fiber sources Appetite suppressants

Intermittent feeding frequencies Skip-a-day (SAD) 4/3 5/2 Graduated 36 pullets at week 12

Objective

The objective of this research is to examine the effect of a rationed alternative diet and non-daily

feeding schedules for broiler breeders under commercial simulated conditions

Methodology: housing and experimental design

1,680 Ross 308 females 70 pullets/pen (7.7 birds/m2) 4 isocaloric dietary treatments From 3 to 22 weeks Feeder space: 4 cm/pullet

Dietary treatments

1. Control diet, daily

3. Control diet, 4/3

4. Control diet, graduated

2. Alternative diet, daily

1-5% Appetite suppresant + 40% Fiber

Data collection

Growth rate and body weight uniformity• Random subsample of 25 pullets/pen• Week: 6, 10, 14 and 17

At week 23• All birds were weighed• Maturity score

Aviagen, 2013

mature immature

Data collection

Feather coverage scoreo Subsample of 10 pullets/peno Biweeklyo 0 – 5 score for each area

• Feather loss• Injury presence

Data collection

Foot lesion and hock burn prevalence• Same subsample of birds• Biweekly• Yes/no score

Welfare Quality., 2014

Data collection and analyses

Data collection

Litter moisture• Weekly sampling• 4 subsamples per pen

SAS version 9.4Mixed procedure• Week repeated measure• Pen random effect • Animal id subject• Degree of significance p < 0.05 (*)

Statistics analysis

Results and discussion: growth rate

Treatment x week*

5/2

4/3

Daily

Results and discussion: maturity score

Control Alternative 4/3 Graduated

a a b ab

Results and discussion: feather coverage

Treatment x week*

4/35/2 5/2 Daily

Light intensity

decreased

Results and discussion: litter moisture

Treatment x week*

Heaterson

Results and discussion: foot lesions

Treatment x week*

Conclusion

Fixed 4/3 schedule resulted in lighter and lower percentage of mature birds at the end of the rearing period

Control treatment had worse feather coverage. We hypothesizes that the larger quantity of feed for non-daily and alternative

treatments decreases feather pecking by increasing time spent feeding

Alternative diet increased litter moisture and foot lesions during the first few weeks of rearing

Acknowledgements

AdvisorStephanie Torrey

Advisory committeeTina Widowski

Alexandra HarlanderElijah Kiarie

Michele Guerin

Volunteers & StudentsElyse Mosco

Iran Oliveira Da SilvaAra Khanamtran Candace MartinsGeisa MainardesHillary Dalton

Jacqueline ChowJessica Ellis

Katherine Hobson Lilia Serpa

Marcos Donizete Silva

Marissa Belanco  Meagan Coffey Melissa SpeirsMischa Ross

Michelle LopesNatalia Stefanoska

Nicole Bermingham  Patrick Birkl Peter McBride

Vinicious Machado dos Santos