Effects of early and late skip-a-day feeding on the growth performance of male hybro broiler chickens

Four hundred and eighty 7-days old Hybro broiler chicks were fed ad libitum, or every other day for 14 days during the starter or grower period or for 28 days during the starter and grower periods followed by full feeding to 49 days of age to examine the effects of the different treatments on growth performance. During the feed restriction period the ad libitum birds consumed more feed, gained more weight and were heavier than all the feed- restricted birds. Also, the 14 day feed-restricted birds consumed more feed, gained more weight and were heavier than the 28 day restricted birds and there were no differences between the two 14 day restricted groups except in feed intake. At the end of the realimentation period, the control birds were still heavier than all the restricted birds though the restricted birds consumed similar quantities of feed, gained more weight and utilized their feed more efficiently and the 14 day restricted birds gained more weight and were heavier than the 28 day feed restricted birds. Overall, feed restriction resulted in reduced feed intake, weight gain, body weight and mortality rate but had no effects on feed efficiency and percentage of abdominal fat.