Choice Feeding Treatments Research Articles

Free Choice Feeding on the Quality of Quail Eggs (Coturnix coturnix-japonica)

Quail is one of the potential sources of animal protein from poultry as egg producers. An egg contains complete nutrients, namely protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. As food, eggs must be maintained both physically and chemically to be safe for consumption. This study aimeds to examine the effect of selective feeding on the quality of quail eggs. This research was carried out at Percut Sei Tuan Subdistrict, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, which had been implemented from August to November in 2018. The study used a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 plots. The study used egg samples from quail aged five (5) months. The treatment consists of Commercial feed (T0), 2 energy source feed (rice bran, corn) with 2 (T1), 3 (T2), 4 (T3) protein source feeds (fish meal, soybean meal, coconut meal, Poultry Meat Meal). The results showed that the treatment gave a significant effect (P<0.05) on egg weight, albumen, and eggshell weight, commercial feed showed eggs weight higher than free choice feeding treatments, while among free choice feeding treatment did not show significant effect. The free choice feeding treatment has a significant effect on the yolk weight, where T2 has the lowest yield. Percentage of yolk, albumen, quail eggshell and egg index, egg yolk index, albumen index, haugh unit and quail yolk color did not show significantly different (P>0.05) among treatment. It can be concluded that the commercial feed showed higher egg weight but had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the proportion of eggs and the interior quality of quail eggs, while among free choicee feeding treatment has no effect.

Effects of choice feeding and lower ambient temperature on feed intake, growth, foot health, and panting of fast- and slow-growing broiler strains.

Effects of lowering ambient temperature in the second half of the growth period were studied in 2 broiler strains with different genetic potential for growth (Ross from 1972 and 2004) when given ad libitum access or pre-mixed increasing proportion of whole wheat in their diet. A total of 48 groups of day-old broilers (n = 64) from the 2 strains were housed as hatched in 48 pens in 4 houses and slaughtered at 6 wk of age. Half of the groups had access to pelleted feed pre-mixed with increasing proportion of whole wheat, the other half had access to pelleted feed and whole wheat in separate troughs. Ambient temperature from 28 d of age was either 21 or 15°C. The fast-growing strain had greater (P < 0.001) live weight throughout (mean slaughter weights 2.6 (±0.014) kg and 1.0 (±0.006) kg). When given a choice, the fast-growing strain consumed a lower (P ≤ 0.004) proportion of whole wheat in their diet in weeks 5 and 6 (20 and 26 (±0.9) % whole wheat), and the slow-growing strain chose a higher (P < 0.001) wheat proportion (45 and 56 (±1.7) %) than the pre-mixed inclusion of 25 and 30%, respectively. The slow-growing strain grew slightly faster in the colder ambient temperature, and slower when given a free choice of whole wheat. Both strains drank more water per feed consumed in the warmer ambient temperature treatment. Foot pad dermatitis, only seen in the fast-growing birds, had a higher occurrence in the colder and in the choice feeding treatments. Gait scoring on day 34 showed perfect gait in more than 85% of the slow-growing and less than 1% of the fast-growing birds. Activity was higher and panting levels were lower in the slow-growing strain (P < 0.001) toward the end of the growth period, with no effect of the temperature treatment on panting. Slow-growing strains increase their energy intake, and fast-growing strains increase their protein intake when given a choice.

Nutritional evaluation of dehulled faba bean (&lt;i&gt;Vicia faba&lt;/i&gt; cv. Fiord) in feeds for weaner pigs

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether faba bean could successfully be used in feeds for weaner pigs in the period 10 to 25 kg liveweight. An experiment was conducted using 48 weaner pigs (average weight 10 ± 0.42 kg) to determine the nutritive value of dehulled faba bean meal (Vicia faba cv. Fiord) in comparison with full-fat soy. Two basal feeds were formulated, the first containing no faba bean but with full-fat soy (FFS) as the protein source, while the second contained 300 g faba bean/kg feed (FB). These feeds were blended to produce a series of five feeds (T1 to T5) containing a range of faba bean contents. In addition, a choice feeding treatment was included in the experiment to determine whether pigs showed preferences for or against faba bean. The experimental feeds were: 1) 1.0 FFS; 2) 0.75 FFS + 0.25 FB; 3) 0.5 FFS + 0.5 FB; 4) 0.25 FFS + 0.75FB; 5) 1.0 FB and 6) choice between FFS and FB. Feeds were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1998) nutrient requirements of weaner pigs. Diluting full-fat soya with dehulled faba bean meal had no effect on growth rate (ADG), feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) or time taken to attain final weight. Male pigs had a numerically higher ADFI (1150 vs. 992 g/d) and ADG (553 vs. 539 g/d) than females, and reached the final liveweight on average 3 d before the females. When given a choice between the two basal feeds, no preference was shown for either feed. It may be concluded that a feed for weaner pigs may contain as much as 300 g dehulled faba bean/kg without causing any deleterious effects on performance as long as the quality of the faba beans is the same as that used in this trial.

Evaluation of dehulled faba bean (&lt;i&gt;Vicia faba&lt;/i&gt; cv. Fiord) as a protein source for laying hens

Dehulled faba beans were evaluated as an alternative to soybeans as a protein source for laying hens using 240 individually caged birds, 50 weeks of age. Two basal feeds were formulated to the same nutrient specifications but with one containing no faba beans and the other containing 200 g dehulled faba bean meal/kg. The experiment was divided into two parts: a dilution series, and a choice feeding treatment. The dilution series consisted of increasing concentrations of faba beans, the five levels in the series being 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg of food. The sixth treatment was a choice between the two basal feeds. Although food intake increased linearly with faba bean inclusion, reflecting a need by the hens to consume more in an attempt to obtain sufficient of some unidentified limiting nutrient, laying performance was the same on all feeds in the dilution series. Hens consumed the same amount of each basal feed when given a choice between the two, suggesting that no anti-nutritional factors were present in the faba beans used in this trial. It can be concluded, from a nutritional point of view, that dehulled faba bean meal may be used successfully as an alternative to soybeans as a source of amino acids for laying hens as long as the levels of antinutritional factors present are very low, as was the case in this trial, and as long as accurate estimates of the AME and the digestible amino acid contents of the ingredient are used when formulating feeds containing faba beans. If faba beans can be grown and then used locally in areas unsuitable for soybean production, the reduced transport cost could make this an attractive alternative to soybeans. Keywords: Anti-nutritional factors, protein sources, choice feeding

Can choice feeding improve performances and N-retention of broilers compared to a standard three-phase feeding schedule?

1. An experiment was conducted to investigate if broilers can improve their performances and N-retention using choice feeding (CF). 2. Treatment 1 consisted of a standard three-phase feeding regime (SF). Treatments 2–7 were CF treatments with a high (HP) and a low protein (LP) feed offered simultaneously to the birds. Choice feeding started at day 1 or 8 and feeds were offered in mash form or as pellets. 3. When choice feeding was started at day 1 and the HP diet was mash, growth rates were increased (+4·2%) compared to SF, whereas all other CF treatments showed similar or significantly lower final body weights compared to SF. Feed conversion was increased for all CF strategies. 4. Highest yield and breast meat percentages were obtained if the low protein diet was pelleted. The amount of N excreted was increased for most choice feeding treatments as a result of the increased N-intakes and the less efficient growth. 5. Broilers were able to make a choice between two feeds differing in protein/amino acid contents starting as early as day 1, but choices were influenced by feed form. The results confirmed that very high protein/amino acid concentrations in the starter period are desirable to improve growth rates in fast-growing chickens.

Determining the source of anti-nutritional factor(s) found in two species of lupin ( L. albus and L. angustifolius) fed to growing pigs

Two similar trials on two species of lupins ( Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius) were conducted using 48 growing pigs each to determine whether the source of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) are to be found in the kernel or the hull. Pigs were grown from 15 to 47 kg liveweight. Three basal diets were formulated, the first was a soya-based diet with no lupin, the second contained 300 g full fat, dehulled lupin meal/kg diet, and the third being the same as the first but replacing 50 g sunflower husks/kg with 50 g lupin hulls/kg. The basal diets were blended in appropriate proportions, to produce a series of nine feeds (Treatments 1–9) containing different dehulled lupin and lupin hull contents. In addition, three choice feeding treatments were included to determine whether there were preferences for or against either the lupin kernel or hull. The growth performance results indicate that increasing the content of dehulled lupin in the diet caused a linear ( P<0.05) decrease in average daily growth rate (ADG) and, in the case of L. albus, a similar decrease ( P<0.05) in voluntary food intake (FI). Adding lupin hulls (maximum 50 g/kg) back to diets with different levels of dehulled lupin had a minimal effect on performance and where it did it improved performance. When given a choice between two feeds, pigs had a clear dislike for dehulled lupin-based diets even when the choice included a diet with lupin hulls. The food intake preferences and growth responses indicated that the ANFs are located in the kernel rather than in the hulls. The results of the chemical composition of the diets were inconclusive in identifying what the ANFs were, although the higher concentrations of oligosaccharides in the diets with dehulled lupin relative to those without, suggests that the oligosaccharides, raffinose and stachyose, are the main ANFs.

Effect of different choice feeding methods based on whole wheat on performance of male broiler chickens

A total of 480 1-week-old male broiler chicks of a commercial breed (Ross 308) were allocated randomly to four treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates each of 40 chicks. Chicks were fed with the standard compound feed (CP: 230 g/kg and ME: 13.19 MJ/kg as fed basis) during the first week. The treatments were (a) control; (b) compound feed and whole wheat mixture (MF; the content of whole wheat in the mixture was 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg in weeks 2–6, respectively); (c) free choice between compound feed and whole wheat in separate troughs (FCF); (d) standard compound feed (18 h) and whole wheat (6 h) sequentially (SF). FCF increased live weight (LW) and weight gain of chickens when compared to MF and SF ( P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of MF was higher than those of control, FCF and SF ( P<0.05). Wheat intake was higher in MF than FCF and SF ( P<0.05). Carcass weight of chickens in control and FCF were higher than that of MF and SF, and also carcass weight of chickens in SF was higher than that of MF ( P<0.05). Full gut weight, abdominal fat, empty gizzard weight and edible inner organs (g/100 g LW) were increased by choice feeding treatments when compared to control ( P<0.05). It is concluded that the FCF method can be used effectively with broiler chicks.

Diet selection in pigs: choices made by growing pigs when given foods differing in nutrient density

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to corroborate or refute the theory that animals will choose a food that will allow them to use it with maximum efficiency. Pigs have been shown to utilize foods of high nutrient density more efficiently than those of low density, so the choices made by pigs when offered such foods could be used to test the above optimization theory. In experiment 1, 48 Large White × Landrace gilts were used, for an 8-week period starting at 22 kg live weight, while in experiment 2, 48 boars of the same cross but of a genetically improved strain were used from 24 to 60 kg live weight. In both experiments use was made of high nutrient density summit foods which were used alone, or diluted in the ratio 80 summit: 20 milled sunflower husk to provide the low density foods. In experiment 1, the high density diet (HI) contained 7·5 g lysine per kg and 13·20 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg, whereas in experiment 2 two summit foods were formulated, the first diet (H2) was offered for 3 weeks from 24 kg live weight and the second (H3) followed until 60 kg live weight. Foods H2 and H3 contained 11·0 and 8·40 g lysine per kg respectively and 15·0 and 14·0 MJ DE per kg, respectively. Both experiments made use of a high (H1 and H2, respectively) and a low nutrient density (L1 and L2, respectively) control treatment in which pigs were given ad libitum access to H1 and H2/H3, and L1 and L2/L3 in experiments 1 and 2 respectively (no. =4). In addition, a medium density treatment (Ml) consisting of a 50: 50 mixture of H1 and L1 (no. = 4) was given in experiment 1. Two choice-feeding treatments where used in both experiments, the first in which H1 and H2IH3 were placed in the left bin (CL1 (no. =18) and CL2 (no. = 20), respectively) and the appropriate dilution diet in the right bin, and the second in which H1 and H2/H3 were placed in the right bin (CR1 (no. = 18) and CR2 (no = 20)). There were no differences in average daily growth rates between treatments within experiments but there were significant differences (P &lt; 0·05) in food intakes and efficiency of food utilization (FCE) between treatments. The highest intakes and lowest FCE were obtained on the L1 and L2 treatments while the lowest intakes were recorded on the choice-feeding treatments. There were no significant differences in FCE neither between H1, CL1 and CR1 nor between H2, CL2 and CR2. Only in experiment 1 were there significant differences (P &lt; 0·05) between choice-feeding treatments on the basis of the position of the food bin but there was no preference for a particular position. The results indicated that pigs were able to differentiate successfully between two foods on the basis of their nutrient density, that bin position was not used as a cue in the choice made, that a small amount of the ‘unwanted’ food was consumed throughout the experiment and that the diet selected maximized FCE.

Sequential feeding of whole wheat to growing broiler chickens

1. Four broiler feeding trials were performed to examine the suitability of a whole wheat sequential feeding regimen for commercial broiler production. The sequential feeding programme gave a continuous cycle of ad libitum access to only whole wheat followed by the same time of access to only a pelleted diet. The pelleted diet provided a concentration of nutrients to balance that provided by the whole wheat. This was called a balancer diet. 2. The first trial used 144 cage-reared broilers from 28 to 49 d of age. Four different times of access (4, 8, 12 and 24 h) to the two alternate foods were compared. A whole wheat choice-feeding treatment and a complete single diet treatment were also compared. Whole wheat accounted for over 40% of the broilers' total food intakes when they were given the sequential feeding treatments of 8 h or greater. The whole wheat intakes of the birds given the 4 h sequential feeding and the choice-feeding were only 20 and 5% respectively. There was a non linear relationship between the weight gains of the broilers and the length of the sequential feeding period (P < 0.01). The growth rates of the broilers given sequential feeding were lowest (P < 0.05) in the 4-h feeding periods but highest (P < 0.05) in the 8-h periods. Weight gains decreased (P < 0.01) linearly as the sequential feeding periods were increased above 8 h. 3. A second trial, using 144 cage-reared broilers, examined the effect of different balancer compositions or different wheat varieties in 8-h sequential feeding. The broilers selected more whole wheat in their diet when they were given balancers with increased cereal contents. However, these broilers did not eat enough whole wheat to compensate for the reduced cereal content of the balancers and their overall diets had lower energy:protein ratios. The two different wheat samples did not result in any differences (P > 0.05) in the proportion of whole wheat selected by the broilers. 4. A third trial compared the diet selections, weight gains, food intakes and water excretions of 72 cage-reared broilers given whole wheat feeding regimens. The growth rates of the broilers given a loose mix of whole wheat and a pelleted balancer diet were similar (P > 0.05) to broilers given a complete single diet. The growth rates of these two groups were 7% greater (P < 0.05) than broilers given choice-feeding or 8-h sequential feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The response of weaner pigs to a choice of foods differing in protein content

AbstractTwo experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that young growing pigs between 7 and 25 kg live weight are capable of selecting a diet which closely matches their changing requirement for amino acids, when offered a choke between two balanced foods differing only in their protein content. In the first experiment, three single-food treatments (8·6,11·7 and 17·4 g lysine per kg food) and one choice-feeding treatment (8·6 v. 17·4 g lysine per kg food), were used. In the second experiment, three foods of similar nutrient composition (approx. 14·7 g lysine per kg food) were formulated using different ingredients (fish meal, soya-bean oilcake meal and a combination of sunflower-, cottonseed- and groundnut-oilcake meals). These were fed either alone or as a choice with each other or with a low protein food (8·3 g lysine per kg food) to test whether palatability or anti-nutritional factors would override the selection based on protein alone. In both experiments, 10 pigs were housed per pen, with males and females being penned separately. One food bin with a central partition was supplied per pen, and an initial 6-day training period was used, in which pigs experienced each of the two foods on offer, separately, at daily intervals. All pigs were weighed weekly, as was the amount of food consumed in each pen. The conclusions reached were that growing pigs are able to differentiate successfully between two foods on the basis of their amino acid contents, and of changing the selected diet to match their changing requirement for dietary amino acids. However, one of the foods on offer appeared to contain either anti-nutritive factors or unpalatable components, and whereas the piglets performed as well on this as on the other foods of similar nutrient content when these foods were offered as the sole source of food, they actively selected against this food when it was offered as a choice, even if this meant their growing at a significantly slower rate than that of which they were capable.

A comparison of phase feeding and choice feeding as methods of meeting the amino acid requirements of growing pigs

ABSTRACTTwo experiments are reported in which a comparison was made of phase feeding and choice feeding as methods of meeting the changing amino acid requirements of growing pigs. In the first experiment, three feeding strategies were used: a system in which a single food (165 g protein per kg food) was offered throughout the growth period; a phase-feeding system, using five different treatments; and three choice-feeding treatments, in which the two diets offered differed only in their protein concentrations. The second experiment consisted of six treatments, three of which constituted a single feeding system, being a high, a medium, (the control) and a low protein food (240, 165 and 100 g protein per kg); there were two phase-feeding treatments, of three and five phases; and one treatment in which a choice was offered of the high and the low protein foods. In both experiments, group data were collected on Landrace × Large White pigs, sexes separate, during the growing period (30 to 90 kg). All pigs were weighed weekly, as was the amount of food consumed in each pen of 10 animals. Phase feeding improved food conversion efficiency (+4·4 g/kg) and caused a decline in both food intake (−45·3 g) and P2 backfat thickness (−0·4 mm) with each increment in the number of phases used. Results of the choice feeding treatments were not statistically significantly different from either the control or the phase feeding treatments. The intake of dietary protein was higher in the choice treatments than in the control (420 v. 370 g in experiment 1 and 345 v. 334 g in experiment 2). Where the two foods on offer differed only in protein content, pigs reduced the proportion of high protein food in the combination chosen by 0037 and 0·059 per week in the two experiments respectively, these linear trends being statistically highly significant. They were less successful in differentiating between the high protein food and maize, the proportion of high protein food chosen decreasing at a statistically significant rate of 0018 per week, but where the maize had not been supplemented with vitamins and minerals there was no significant trend in the way in which the pigs selected their diet, demonstrating the importance of the correct design of the two foods on offer in a choice-feeding programme.

The response of growing pigs to a choice of diets differing in protein content

ABSTRACTAn experiment was designed to test whether pigs can differentiate between two foods differing in their protein content. A control food (160 g protein per kg food) and six choice-feeding treatments, in which the diets differed only in their protein concentrations, were used in the experiment. Pigs were given the following choices of protein: 220v.180; 220v.140; 220v.100; 180v.140; 180v.100 and 140v.100 g protein per kg food. Group data were collected on 240 Landrace × Large White pigs during the growing phase (30 to 90 kg), all pigs used being of similar genetic background. A 2 × 7 factorial design was replicated twice, with 10 pigs per pen, and with barrows and gilts being penned separately. Food bins for the choice-feeding treatments were placed side-by-side and an 8-day training period, in which the pigs were allowed access to only one of the two foods on alternate days, was used at the beginning of the trial to allow them to learn the position, taste and physiological effect of each of the two foods. All pigs were weighed weekly, as was the amount of food consumed in each pen. The conclusion reached was that growing pigs were able to differentiate successfully between two foods on the basis of their protein content and to change the selected diet to match their changing requirement for dietary protein. As a result, there was a significant reduction in food intake (P&lt; 0·001) and in the P2 backfat thickness (P&lt; 0·01) and the food conversion ratio was significantly improved (P&lt; 0·001) compared with the control treatment.

Environmental temperature and choice feeding of the broiler.

1. Broilers were kept under environmental temperature regimens of 16, 21, 26 or 31 degrees and given, 22--57 d of age, either a complete diet or free-choice of whole wheat and a higher-protein food containing either 252 or 516 g crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25)/kg. 2. Broilers maintained at 16 and 21 degrees consumed food at a significantly higher rate than those kept at 26 degrees and the latter had a significantly higher food intake rate than broilers kept at 31 degrees, for each feeding treatment. Compared with 21 degrees the 57 d body-weight of broilers kept at 26 degrees and 31 degrees was significantly reduced. 3. When kept under the 16, 21, 26 and 31 degrees regimens, the amount of whole wheat in the food consumed by the broilers choice-fed with wheat and the 252 g crude protein/kg food was 56, 55, 48 and 46% respectively. The corresponding values for the broilers on the second choice-feeding treatment were 80, 76, 79 and 72%. 4. Except for a single instance the choice-fed broilers grew at a significantly slower rate than broilers given the complete diet.