Open AccessImprovement in broiler performance by feeding a nutrient-dense diet after a mild feed restriction
Author(s) -
Mohammad Hadaeghi,
C. Avilés,
Alireza Seidavi,
Leila Asadpour,
Nieves Núñez Sánchez,
Andrés Luis Martínez Marín
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
revista colombiana de ciencias pecuarias/revista colombiana de ciencias pecuarias
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2256-2958
pISSN - 0120-0690
DOI - 10.17533/udea.rccp.v34n3a02
Subject(s) - broiler , feed conversion ratio , zoology , nutrient , nutrient density , compensatory growth (organ) , biology , homogeneous , body weight , mathematics , endocrinology , ecology , combinatorics , kidney
Background: The use of early nutrient-restriction programs in broilers can prevent complications such as increased body fat deposition and its consequences. However, feed restriction not always gives the expected results. Objective: To assess the effect of two levels of feed restriction followed by a re-alimentation period with five increasing nutrient levels on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 330 animals were used. The treatments were: 25 (T25) and 35% (T35) quantitative feed restriction during the starting period, and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 15% increased energy and protein contents during the growing and finishing periods. Results: For all the T25 treatments, except for T25-0, feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were higher, and feed conversion rate (FCR) was lower (p 0.05) between treatments during the finishing period. Conclusion: Feeding a nutrient-dense diet after a period of mild feed restriction gives the best results, while increasing nutrient density after a more severe feed restriction does not improve productive results compared to a standard diet. Carcass traits and immune function were not affected by restriction level or nutrient density.