V. S. de Avila

Performance of female broiler breeders submitted to different feeding schedules

The performance of Arbor Acres broiler breeders (1,296 females; 144 roosters) was evaluated when submitted to the following treatments (T): T1 = feeding at 6:30 a.m. (control); T2 = 50% feeding at 6:30 a.m. and 50% at 3:30 p.m. (dual feeding); T3 = feeding at 11:00 a.m.; and T4 = feeding at 3:30 p.m. Treatments were randomly distributed in 48 pens. There were 27 females and 3 males in each pen and 12 repetitions per treatment. Nutrition and management were as recommended for the commercial strain. It was evaluated age at first egg (AFE), total egg production (TEP), number of days with production above 80% (DAP80), laying peak (P), female mortality (MOR), and gross profit margin (GM) per hen. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by Students t-Test. TEP of T1 (186.3±2.3) and T2 (186.5±1.5) were higher (p 0.10) among treatments. GM per hen was better (p<0.05) in T1 and T2 hens. Control and dual treatments were more efficient than other treatments. It was concluded that it is possible to change conventional feeding managements by the dual feeding system.

Influence of feeding time on sexual maturity and carcass composition in female broiler breeders

One thousand two hundred and ninety six Arbor Acres females and 144 males were used to study the influence of feeding time on sexual maturity and carcass composition. Treatments were: T1 = feeding at 6:30 am, T2 = 50% feeding at 6:30 am and 50% at 3:30 pm (dual), T3 = feeding at 11:00 am, T4 = feeding at 3:30 pm. Nutrition and management were as recommended to the commercial line. Variables studied were: sexual maturity at 5% production (SM), mean egg production percentage (PEP) body weight (BW), carcass composition, tibia weight (TIBW) and tibia calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents. Analysis of variance was used, and the means were compared using Students t test. T2 females reached SM at 25.92 weeks, which was earlier (p 0.10) on carcass dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP) and ash (ASH). DM, EE, TIBW, Ca and P increased (p<0.05) whereas CP and ASH decreased with age. Time of feeding influenced body weight, but not carcass composition. Hens fed twice a day had earlier sexual maturity and similar egg production compared to those fed once at 6:30 am.