Effect of floor type and energy source on growth and productivity of broiler breeders

Arbor Acres broiler breeder chicks were raised through an egg production cycle on either wood or plastic slats and either full- or partial-slat flooring. Two diets with either corn starch (CHO) or fat (FAT) as the primary energy source were fed at a rate consistent with the breeder's recommendations to examine the effect of energy source on fat deposition and productivity. Fertility and hatchability were unaffected by slat material or floor type. Mean hen-day egg production and floor egg production were significantly (P less than .05) reduced for birds on full-slat floors. In addition, birds on full-slat, plastic floors averaged 6.4% fewer eggs over the production cycle versus birds on full-slat, wood floors. Floor egg recovery from full-slat floors was not considered to be the major reason for this reduced egg production. Wood or plastic slats had no effect on average egg production for birds on partial-slat and litter floors. Energy source had no effect on growth or productivity except during Weeks 17 and 18 of production when birds fed the FAT diet had a greater egg production than birds fed the CHO diet. Overall mean hen-day egg production, fertility, and hatchability were unaffected by dietary energy source. Abdominal fat pad weight and adipocyte characteristics were also similar for FAT- and CHO-fed birds.