Abstract
A trial was conducted to investigate the impact of early feed restriction on ascites induced by cold temperatures and the subsequent effect on the whole body and breast muscle growth of broilers. Two feed restriction regimens were tested, consisting of limiting daily feed intake of the birds to 75% of the ME required for normal growth from either 4 to 11 d or from 7 to 14 d. At 21 d, half of the birds were moved to a cold house (17.8 C) to induce ascites. Five birds from each pen were killed for the breast muscle growth, Pectoralis major and Pectoralis minor, and heart and abdominal fat pad weights at 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, 35, and 49 d of the experiment. Birds in the cold house were heavier and had better feed conversion than birds in the control house at 49 d of age. This could be attributed to the high ambient temperatures (27 to 33 C) in the control house. The ad libitum birds had a significantly greater percentage of P. major than the feed-restricted birds. Exposure to cold temperatures caused significantly higher percentage of ascites from 21 to 49 d. Cold temperatures also increased the percentage of total heart and the right ventricle weight relative to total heart weight ratio at 35 and 49 d of age, suggesting that the surviving birds were more likely to develop ascites. Although catch-up growth was observed, the final body weight of feed-restricted birds was not the same as ad libitum birds. Early feed restriction reduced the incidence of ascites, but at the cost of breast muscle growth.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.