Performance of broiler breeders on different feeding systems

Two experiments were conducted in which broiler breeders were fed either at 0800, 1300, 1600 hr, ad libitum, or at 1300 hr followed by a calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) supplement 3 hr later. The Ca-P supplement was 10.6 g/bird/day of pellets containing 5.2% P and 21.0% Ca. Experiment 1 was conducted with 64-week-old hens from July 27 to August 23. Experiment 2 was conducted with 32-week-old hens from November 5 to January 27. The birds that were fed at 1300 hr followed by Ca-P pellets at 1600 hr and those fed at 1600 hr laid eggs with higher specific gravity than did the birds fed at 0800 hr, 1300 hr, or ad libitum. The ad libitum-fed birds laid eggs with the lowest specific gravity. There were no significant differences in fertility or hatchability of fertile eggs attributed to different feeding times, although ad libitum-fed birds had lower fertility and hatchability. However, egg production was significantly higher for hens fed at 1300 hr with Ca-P pellets at 1600 hr than for birds fed ad libitum in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, ad libitum-fed birds had significantly higher egg production than birds fed at 1300 hr. However, there were no significant differences in egg production among birds fed at different times.