The effects of alternative feeding strategies for broiler breeders

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

Commercial feed restriction programsHunger

Frustration Lack of satiety

F&O Pecking Overdrinking

Feed restriction

Feed allotment

Feeding rate

Competition

BW uniformity

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 was to examine the effect of a rationed alternative diet and

non-daily feeding schedules for broiler breeders under simulated commercial

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

1-5% Appetite suppresant + 40% Fiber

1. Control diet, daily

3. Control diet, 4/3

4. Control diet, graduated

2. Alternative diet, daily

Data collection

Growth rate and body weight uniformity

• Random subsample of 25 pullets/pen• Week: 3, 6, 10, 14 and 17

At week 23:

• All birds were weighed• Maturity score

Aviagen, 2013

mature immature

Data collection

Foot lesion and hock burn prevalence

• Same subsample of birds• Biweekly• Yes/no score

Welfare Quality, 2014

Data collection and statistical analysis

Litter moisture

• Weekly sampling• 4 subsamples per pen• Dehydrated for 24h at 60º C

SAS version 9.4Glimmix procedure• Pen, room as random effect • Week as repeated measure• Initial as covariate (CV and litter moisture)

Statistics analysis

Results and discussion: growth rate

Treatment x week*

4/3

5/2

Daily

5/2

Results and discussion: flock uniformity

4/3 5/2 Daily

x 100

Results and discussion: maturity score at week 23

BWimmature= 1913 g

a a ab b a>b (P < 0.05)

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

Difference in body weight for the graduated treatment was no longer significant after switching to a daily feeding basis at

week 19

Non-daily feeding programs and qualitative restriction did not improve body weight uniformity during rearing phase

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

Further data from rearing

Additional measurements during rearing:

Behaviour recordings Blood sampling:

Plasma corticosterone Plasma glucose Heterophil / lymphocyte ratio Basophil count

Feather coverage Feather information:

Growth

Fault bars/stress bands

Feed intake test

Next steps:

The long-term effect of rearing conditions during laying

Acknowledgements

Volunteers & StudentsElyse Mosco

Iran Oliveira Da SilvaAra Khanamtran Candace MartinsGeisa Mainardes

Hillary DaltonJacqueline Chow

Jessica Ellis Katherine Hobson

Lilia SerpaMarcos Donizete Silva

Marissa Belanco  Meagan Coffey Melissa SpeirsMischa Ross

Michelle LopesNatalia Stefanoska

Nicole Bermingham  Patrick Birkl

Peter McBrideVinicious Machado dos

Santos

Diet formulations

+40% extra S+50% extra G1+54% extra G2

Reliability

Scores Kappa coefficient Percentage of agreement

Maturity 94.4% 98.6%

Foot lession 79.1% 98.2%

Hock burn 48.7% 96.5%

Feather coverage 71,2% 77.2%