Performance of Laying Hens Subjected to Restricted Feeding During Rearing and Laying Periods

Abstract

IN RECENT years there has been considerable controversy concerning the merits of rearing replacement stock pullets on a low plane of nutrition. Research reports practically all indicate a delay in sexual maturity when nutrient intake is limited but there is much less agreement as to the effect on subsequent laying-house performance. This can be attributed, at least in part, to different methods and severity of restriction and also to variations in length of restriction periods.Tests concerned with an actual restriction in feed intake were reported by Milby and Sherwood (1953), Singsen et al. (1954), and Milby and Sherwood (1956). Other than delaying sexual maturity from 10 to 26 days, restricted feeding had no real influence on subsequent egg production, mortality, over-all feed consumption, final body weight or average egg weight. Similar results were obtained by Sunde et al. (1954), when comparing a complete growing diet with a diet containing …