S. MAHMOOD, S. MEHMOOD, F. AHMAD, A. MASOOD¹ AND R. KAUSAR²

Department of Poultry Science; ¹Department of Veterinary Anatomy; ²Department of Zoology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

    Effects of feed restriction during starter phase on subsequent growth performance, dressing percentage, relative organ weights and immune response of broilers were studied. One hundred and twenty day-old (Hubbard) broiler chicks were reared in a group for one week (adaptation period). At day 8 of their age, these chicks were randomly divided into 12 experimental units of 10 chicks each. These units were further allotted randomly to four treatment groups A, B, C and D such that each treatment received three replicates. The chicks in group A were fed ad libitum and served as control. Whereas the birds in groups B, C and D were kept on a feed restriction programme of different durations i.e. 1 hr feeding with 3 hrs off, 1 hr feeding with 5 hrs off and 1 hr feeding with 7 hrs off, respectively, from 8^th up to 28^th day of age. After 28^th day of age, all the birds were fed ad libitum up to the age of 6 weeks. The birds in group A consumed significantly more feed compared to the birds kept under restricted feeding programme. However, restricted birds utilized their feed more efficiently than controls. The dressing percentage and relative weight of heart, liver, spleen, gizzard, pancreas and intestine remained unaffected due to the treatments. The immune response against Newcastle disease and Infectious Bursal Disease at 30^th day of age was found to be low in the feed restricted group.

Key words: Broilers, feed restriction, growth performance, dressing percentage, relative organ weights, immune response.