Feeding regimen of breeder broiler hen influences growth performance of the broiler chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding regimens for the breeder broiler hen on the performance of broiler chickens. Breeder broiler hens (196 hens and 28 roosters; age between 31 and 38 wk) were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments that differ in the proportion of daily allowance served at different times with 1 (100% at 0400 h), 2 (50% at 0400 and 1600, or 75% and 25% at 0400 and 1600, respectively), 3 (33% at 0400, 1200 and 1600, or 50% at 0400 and 25% at 1200 and 1600), and 4 (33% at 0400, 22% at 0800, 1200 and 1600, or 55% at 0400 and 17% at 0800, 1200 and 1600) meals in every 24-h cycle. There were 4 replicates per treatment, each consisted of 7 hens and 1 rooster received experimental diets for 8 wk continuously. The growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake, protein conversion ratio, energy intake, and energy conversion ratio in the broiler chicken were evaluated for 42 d. Dietary regimens (frequency and timetable) for breeder broiler hens affected (P < 0.001) the feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake, protein conversion ratio, energy intake, and energy conversion ratio in the offspring (d 0–42). Overall feed conversion, protein conversion and energy conversion in broiler chickens from breeder hens received daily allowances in 3 or 4 meals were improved compared to those from breeder hens received 100% dietary allowance as a single meal. It is concluded that providing the daily diet allowance of breeder broiler hens in 3 or 4 meals is likely to improve growth performance in their offspring.