Abstract
The influence of early protein restriction on the growth rate of broiler stocks with different genetic potential was investigated in three trials. The protein restriction used was a dietary treatment consisting of a 16% protein diet from 0 to 2 weeks of age followed by a 22% protein diet from 2 to 8 weeks of age. This treatment was compared to dietary treatments consisting of 16% and 22% protein from 0 to 8 weeks of age.Commercial broiler chicks (selected) had feed intake and body weights approximately twice that of randombred (nonselected) chicks. There was little evidence of compensatory growth following low protein restriction from 0 to 2 weeks of age. Immediately following the change from the 16% protein diet to the 22% protein diet, feed conversions of the restricted birds were superior to feed conversions of birds fed the 22% protein diet from 0 to 8 weeks. Although the magnitude of the difference was small, it continued for a 3-week period and was consistent across trials.
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