Submit Manuscript

Asian Journal of Poultry Science

Year: 2017 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 70-74
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Growing Period on Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abdul Azis Abdul Azis's LiveDNA and Afriani

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective: Feeding time restriction is an alternate, lower intensity type of feed restriction and is less stressful than other types. It is important to achieve beneficial effects from feed restriction without adverse effects on growth. This study aimed to determine the impact of feeding time restriction on growth performance of broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: Three hundred seven days old unsexed broiler chickens of the Lohmann commercial strain were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments were the following: Broilers being fed ad libitum as a control group (P-0) and broilers having free access to feed during 9 h/day (P-1), 12 h/day (P-2) and 15 h/day (P-3). The feeding time restriction was done from 21-35 days of age. All data was analyzed based on a completely randomized design using SAS software. Results: Broilers had lower body weight gain, body weight and feed consumption due to feeding time restrictions P-1 and P-2, however, broilers that had access to feed during 15 h/day had a similar performance to broilers fed ad libitum. Feed conversion rates of broilers fed during 9 h/day were better than other treatments during the 1st week of feed restriction (21-28 days), however, there were no significant differences among the treatments during 29-35 days of age and the overall period of feed restriction (21-35 days of age). Conclusion: Broiler chickens with a feeding time restriction of free access to feed during 15 h/day during the grower period, had a similar performance at market age as broiler chickens with ad libitum feeding.
PDF Abstract XML References Citation
Received: August 02, 2017;   Accepted: October 16, 2017;   Published: October 27, 2017

Search

INTRODUCTION

Raising broiler chickens in tropical countries such as Indonesia is problematic owing to the direct effect of high ambient temperatures. In poultry production, environmental temperatures above 30°C result in heat stress that is considered one of the most common stresses. This stress is a major factor hindering poultry farmers, especially in the summer when using conventional, open-sided houses to control the microclimate in the broiler house. Heat stress has detrimental effects on the performance of broiler chickens during 4-8 weeks of age when reared in open-sided houses1,2.

Broiler chickens are susceptible to heat stress due to high ambient temperatures during their growth period. Research has shown that broilers performed best after 21 days of age if reared at an ambient temperature of 24°C or during the diurnal cycle of 18-24°C3, 25°C4, 23°C2 and 15.6-21.1°C5,6. These temperature conditions are difficult to achieve in tropical climates.

Metabolic heat production associated with feeding and digestion can be a significant contributor to heat stress on broilers, particularly during hot hours of the day. It has been shown that heat production is associated with feed intake and metabolism. Therefore, reducing feed intake helps chickens withstand heat stress by decreasing their rate of heat production. For this reason, feed restriction during hot days is recommended to address this heat stress problem and it has become a common management practice in many broiler-producing areas1. Abu-Dieyeh4reported that body weight gain of birds fed 50% ad libitum and reared at 35°C was higher than birds reared at a constant 25°C or at variable, natural temperatures (21-30°C). In another report, Ahmad et al.7 suggested that intermittent feeding (1 h feed and 3 h off) can be effectively applied in open-sided houses, during hot climatic conditions.

In practice, alternative feeding time restriction is easier than quantitative feed restriction. Feeding time restriction is a feed restriction schedule, where chicks have free access to feed daily for 9 h/day or 15 h/day at specific times. Feed time restriction is an alternative to feed quantity restriction and it is less stressful8,9. Feed time restriction may be a possible alternative, because broilers eat to their maximum physical capacity10 during times of feed availability. De Silva and Kalubowila11 found that when feed was offered after 3 h of deprivation (13:00-16:00), broilers consumed higher amounts of feed within the first 2 h (16:00-18:00) as compared to the feed intake of the ad libitum group of broilers during the same time period. Moderate feed restriction strategies are more appropriate to achieve beneficial effects from feed restriction without adverse effects on growth during growing periods. It is assumed that the feeding time restriction is not severe and it allows broilers to achieve a normal body weight at market age. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding restriction time during the growing period on the growth performance of broiler chickens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chickens, feed and housing: A total of 300 unsexed Lohmann broiler chicks, bought from a commercial hatchery (PT Japfa Comfeed, Lampung, Indonesia), were used in the study. Chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (crumble) from 7-21 days of age and a commercial finisher diet (pellets) from 22-42 days of age. The commercial feed (manufactured by PT Japfa Comfeed, Lampung, Indonesia) was purchased from a poultry store. The nutrient composition of the commercial feed is presented in Table 1. All the chicks were reared in a conventional open-sided house with natural cyclic temperatures (minimum 20°C, maximum 34°C). The chicks were assigned to 20 floor pens with 15 chicks/pen (l×w×h, 2×1.5×0.75 m).

Treatments and experimental design: Broiler chickens had free access to feed from 1-20 days of age. At 21 days, all birds were weighed and randomly allotted to floor pens. A completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications was used in this study.

Table 1:Nutrition composition of commercial starter (7-21 days) and finisher diet (22-35 days)
Image for - Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Growing Period on Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens

The treatments were the following: Broilers fed ad libitum as a control group (P-0), broilers having free access to feed during 9 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-19:00, 22:00-01:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-1), broilers having free access to feed during 12 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-20:00, 22:00-03:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-2) and broilers having free access to feed during 15 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-21:00, 22:00-05:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-3).

Variable measurement and statistical analysis: All birds were weighed individually at 21, 28 and 35 days of age. The body weight of each broiler was measured between 18:00 and 19:00 on measurement days when food was still available to all groups. Feed consumption was measured based on pen values and feed conversion was calculated as the ratio of feed consumption adjusted for mortality to average weight gain. Feed consumption, body weight gains and the feed conversion ratios were calculated for the periods of 21-28, 29-35, 21-35 days and from 1-35 days.

Statistical analysis: All data were analyzed based on a completely randomized design using SAS software12. Data are presented as Mean±SD. The significant differences between treatment means were determined by Duncan’s multiple range test. All statements of significance are based on testing at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Growth performance: The results of feeding time restriction on body weight gain and body weight are summarized in Table 2. Body weight gains and body weights of broilers that had access to feed during 9 (P-1) and 12 h/day (P-2) were lower (p<0.05) than those of broilers fed ad libitum (P-0) during the feed restriction periods. Among the groups with feeding time restrictions, body weight gains and body weights of P-1 and P-2 broilers were not significantly different during these periods. There were no significant differences among broilers that had access to feed during 15 h/day (P-3) and broilers fed ad libitum (P-0).

Feed consumption and feed conversion ratio: The responses of feeding on feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio are shown in Table 3. Feed consumption by broilers that had access to feed during 9 h/day (P-1) and 12 h/day (P-2) was lower (p<0.05) than that of broilers fed ad libitum (P-0) during feed restriction periods. However, there were no differences among broilers that had access to feed during 15 h/day (P-3) and those with ad libitum feeding (P-0).

Table 2:Body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) of broiler chickens subjected to feeding time restriction
Image for - Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Growing Period on Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens
a,bMean within a row with no common superscripts differ at p<0.05, Mean±SD, broiler chicks fed ad libitum (P-0), broilers had free access to feed during 9 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-19:00, 22:00-01:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-1), broilers had free access to feed during 12 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-20:00, 22:00-03:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-2), broilers had free access to feed during 15 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-21:00, 22:00-05:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-3)

Table 3:Feed consumption (FC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chickens subjected to feeding time restriction
Image for - Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Growing Period on Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens
a,bMean within a row with no common superscripts differ at p<0.05, Mean±SD, broiler chicks fed ad libitum (P-0), broilers had free access to feed during 9 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-19:00, 22:00-01:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-1), broilers had free access to feed during 12 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-20:00, 22:00-03:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-2), broilers had free access to feed during 15 h/day (07:00-10:00, 16:00-21:00, 22:00-05:00) from 21-35 days of age (P-3)

The feed conversion ratio of P-1 was lower (p<0.05) than that of other treatments during 21-28 days of age, however, there were no significant differences between the treatments during 29-35 days of age and during the overall period of feed restriction (21-35 days of age).

DISCUSSION

In this study, free access to feed during 9 and 12 h/day resulted in lower body weight gains, final body weights and feed consumption compared with the effects of ad libitum feeding. However, broilers with a free access to feed during 15 h/day had a similar response to broilers fed ad libitum. This result may be attributed to the time of feed availability and increased feed intake during cooler temperatures at night, which allows the broilers to meet their nutrient requirements for growth. The results from this study agreed with those in the previous study of Banong and Hakim13, who found that a fasting program of up to 4 h daily (11:00-15:00) from 14-35 days of age had no effect on body weight gain and body weight at 35 days of age. Farghly and Hassanien14 reported that feeding broiler chicks over once a day (3 times/day) in a 4 h period improved growth performance. The restricted broilers could adapt quickly to the feeding time restriction, as indicated by the similar body weight gains for broilers fed ad libitum and feed restricted broilers during growth periods15,16. In line with these results, Svihus et al.17 concluded that broiler chickens quickly adapt to intermittent feeding without a reduction in final body weight.

Feed conversion rates of broilers fed during 9 h/day were higher than rates for other treatments during the 1st week of feed restriction (21-28 days of age), however, there were similar feed conversion rates among the treatments during 29-35 days of age and the overall period of feed restriction (21-35 days of age). In the current study, the feeding time restriction did not improve feed utilization. Our assumption that feeding time restrictions can reduce feed consumption was not supported. A reduction in feed consumption may not occur because of longer periods of feed availability during the night, allowing birds to compensate by consuming more feed and spending more time with feed17. Another study showed that a fasting program up to 4 h daily (11:00-15:00) from 14-35 days of age had no effect on feed intake and feed conversion ratios18. However, when feed was removed for 6, 8 or 10 h during the day from 8-28 days of age and was followed by ad libitum feeding until market age, feed intake was reduced and feed efficiency was improved and the longer the period of feed removal the better the efficiency of utilization. In another report, Svihus et al.17 concluded that broiler chickens adapt to intermittent feeding by increasing the use of their crop as an intermittent storage organ, which appears to have some beneficial effects on feed utilization. The differences in the findings may be due to the difference in the methods of feed restriction or the duration of feed restriction.

CONCLUSION

Based upon the findings of this study, broiler chickens that have a feeding time restriction with free access to feed 9 h/day during the growing period had better results than those in other treatment groups during 1st week of feed restriction, however, a feeding time restriction of 15 h/day during the growing period had a similar effect as the control treatment at market age.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTS

This study focuses on feeding time restriction as a tool of feed restriction for broiler chickens. This study discovered that growth performance of broiler chickens that had free access to feed during 15 h/day had better results than those with access for 9 or 12 h/day.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by Program Hibah Bersaing, Directorate General of Higher Education Indonesia and financial support from DIPA Jambi University, 2013 No. 023.04.2.415103/2013.

REFERENCES

  1. Ozkan, S., Y. Akbas, O. Altan, A. Altan, V. Ayhan and K. Ozkan, 2003. The effect of short-term fasting on performance traits and rectal temperature of broilers during the summer season. Br. Poult. Sci., 44: 88-95.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  2. Al-Aqil, A., I. Zulkifli, A.Q. Sazili, A.R. Omar and M.A. Rajion, 2009. The effects of the hot, humid tropical climate and early age feed restriction on stress and fear responses and performance in broiler chickens. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 22: 1581-1586.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  3. Reece, F.N. and B.D. Lott, 1983. The effects of temperature and age on body weight and feed efficiency of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 62: 1906-1908.
    PubMedDirect Link
  4. Abu-Dieyeh, Z.H.M., 2006. Effect of chronic heat stress and long-term feed restriction on broiler performance. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 5: 185-190.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  5. Olanrewaju, H.A., J.L. Purswell, S.D. Collier and S.L. Branton, 2010. Effect of ambient temperature and light intensity on physiological reactions of heavy broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 89: 2668-2677.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  6. Olanrewaju, H.A., J.L. Purswell, S.D. Collier and S.L. Branton, 2010. Effect of ambient temperature and light intensity on growth performance and carcass characteristics of heavy broiler chickens at 56 days of age. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 9: 720-725.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  7. Ahmad, F., S. Mahmood and M. Yousaf, 2013. Production performance and leg abnormalities of broilers as affected by different feeding manipulations. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 15: 1145-1150.
    Direct Link
  8. Susbilla, J.P., I. Tarvid, C.B. Gow and T.L. Frankel, 2003. Quantitative feed restriction or meal-feeding of broiler chicks alter functional development of enzymes for protein digestion. Br. Poult. Sci., 44: 698-709.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  9. Zhan, X.A., M. Wang, H. Ren, R.Q. Zhao, J.X. Li and Z.L. Tan, 2007. Effect of early feed restriction on metabolic programming and compensatory growth in broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 86: 654-660.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  10. Bokkers, E.A.M. and P. Koene, 2003. Eating behaviour and preprandial and postprandial correlations in male broiler and layer chickens. Br. Poult. Sci., 44: 538-544.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  11. De Silva, P.H.G.J. and A. Kalubowila, 2012. Influence of feed withdrawal for three hour time period on growth performance and carcass parameters later stage of male broiler chickens. Iran. J. Applied Anim. Sci., 2: 191-197.
    Direct Link
  12. SAS., 2001. SAS/STAT User's Guide for Personal Computers. Release 6.12, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC., USA.
  13. Banong, S. and M.R. Hakim, 2011. [The effect of age and duration of fasting on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken]. JITP, 2: 98-106, (In Indonesian).
    Direct Link
  14. Farghly, M.F.A. and H.H.M. Hassanien, 2012. Effect of feed frequencies and durations on performance of broiler chicks. Egypt. Poult. Sci., 32: 273-288.
    Direct Link
  15. Azis, A., 2012. Performance and heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio profile of broiler chickens subjected to feeding time restriction. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 11: 153-157.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  16. Azis, A., Zubaidah and Berliana, 2013. The effect of feeding time restriction during the starter period on compensatory growth and thyroid hormone concentrations of broiler chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 12: 740-745.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  17. Svihus, B., V.B. Lund, B. Borjgen, M.R. Bedford and M. Bakken, 2013. Effect of intermittent feeding, structural components and phytase on performance and behaviour of broiler chickens. Br. Poult. Sci., 54: 222-230.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  18. Benyi, K., O. Acheampong-Boateng, D. Norris and T.J. Ligaraba, 2010. Response of Ross 308 and Hubbard broiler chickens to feed removal for different durations during the day. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 42: 1421-1426.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link

Search

Related Articles

Effect of Chronic Heat Stress and Long-Term Feed Restriction on Broiler Performance
Performance and Heterophil to Lymphocyte (H/L) Ratio Profile of Broiler Chickens Subjected to Feeding Time Restriction
The Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Starter Period on Compensatory Growth and Thyroid Hormone Concentrations of Broiler Chickens
Effect of Ambient Temperature and Light Intensity on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Heavy Broiler Chickens at 56 Days of Age

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *