Responses of different strains of Australian broiler chickens to feed restriction at an early age

Abstract

Male chickens from the three most common commercial broiler strains in Australia were fed conventionally or on a regimen which restricted growth by approximately 58% between 6 and 12 days of age followed by ad libitum feeding. Early age feed restriction had no significant effect on bodyweight at 47 days of age, and feed was utilized significantly more efficiently with all three strains. Restriction significantly reduced abdominal fat and had no significant effect on the yield of breast meat. The large improvements in feed efficiency and reductions in abdominal fat have major implications with regard to the economics of broiler meat production.