Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T08:38:22.009Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Responses of adult broiler breeders to feeding time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

D. Backhouse  and
R.M. Gous
D. Backhouse*
Affiliation:
Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
R.M. Gous
Affiliation:
Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Feeding time has the potential to influence the performance of adult broilerbreeder flocks and is thus of great importance. Aliterature review is presented concerning the responses of adult broilerbreeders to feeding time. It appears that there is no benefit in feeding broiler breeders later in the day with regard to egg numbers oregg weight.

There is a potential improvement in shell quality that results from feeding laterin the day or from splitting the daily feed allocation across more frequent feeding periods throughout the day. However, anticipated improvements in shell quality due to delayed feeding times may not be realised, particularly when birds are housed on litter floors. Furthermore, improvements in shell quality may not be translated into improvements in hatchability due to increases in shell thickness adversely affecting the watervapourconductance of the eggshell.

Broiler hatching egg producers should be aware that later feeding times may delay the time of oviposition, which may demand changes in farm procedures. Furthermore, delayed feeding times may result in feeding activity coinciding with other important periods of activity, such as mating and oviposition, resulting in a reduction in fertility and an increase in the production of eggs with abnormal shells. The current commercial practice of feeding adult broiler breeders early in the day, at, ornear, lights-on, is justified, as feeding at this time has positive consequences for other aspects of hatching egg production. However, afternoon feeding is not necessarily detrimental and may be an option to consider in cases where improvements in shell quality are required, although this may not be the solution for hatchability problems. If a change in feeding time is under consideration, environmental conditions, particularly the photoperiod and ambient temperature, must be taken into account, and any changes should be made gradually, as broiler breeders may be sensitive to abrupt changes in feeding time. Furthermore, changes in the feeding schedule should be accompanied by close monitoring of performance parameters, including the number of settable, abnormal and floor eggs, percentage of fertile eggs, and hatch of fertiles.

Keywords

broiler breedersfeeding time
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 269 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Appleby, M.C., Hughes, B.O. and Elson, H.A. (1992) Egg laying. In: Poultry Production Systems. Behaviour, Management and Welfare, pp. 175–190. Wallingford, CAB International.Google Scholar
Backhouse, D. and Gous, R.M. (2005) The effect of feeding time on shell quality and oviposition time in broiler breeders. British Poultry Science 46: 255–259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balnave, D. (1977) The effect of energy restriction on laying hens given either a single morning or a single evening meal. British Poultry Science 18: 115–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blohowiak, C.C. and Van Krey, H.P. (1984) Time of mating behaviour by males from lines of chickens selected for high and low mating frequency. Poultry Science 63: 1677–1678.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bootwalla, S.M., Wilson, H.R. and Harms, R.H. (1983) Performance of broiler breeders on different feeding systems. Poultry Science 62: 2321–2325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bougon, M.B. (1973) When to restrict layers'feed for best results (Part 2). Poultry World, 15th February: 34–35.Google Scholar
Brake, J. (1985) Relationship of egg weight, specific gravity, and shell weight to time of oviposition and feeding in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 64: 2037–2040.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brake, J. (1988) Relationship of time of feeding and strain to egg shell quality and hatchability in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 67: 538–543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brake, J. and Peebles, E.D. (1986) Effect of strain and time of day of feeding on reproductive performance and shell quality of broiler breeders. Poultry Science 65: 156 (Abstract).Google Scholar
Brillard, J.P., Galut, O. and Nys, Y. (1987) Possible causes of subfertility in hens following insemination near the time of oviposition. British Poultry Science 28: 307–318.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cave, N.A. (1981) Effect of diurnal programs of nutrient intake on the performance of broiler breeder hens. Poultry Science 60: 1287–1292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Craig, J.V. and Bhagwat, A.L. (1974) Agonistic and mating behaviour of adult chickens modified by social and physical environments. Applied Animal Ethology 1: 57–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniel, M. and Balnave, D. (1981) Responses of cross-bred layers fed at specific meal times. British Poultry Science 22: 347–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Andrade, A.N.J., Rogler, J.C., Featherston, W.R. and Alliston, C.W. (1977) Interrelationships between diet and elevated temperatures (cyclic and constant) on egg production and shell quality. Poultry Science 56: 1178–1188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Avila, V.S., Penz, A.M. Jr., De Brum, P.A.R., Rosa, P.S., Guidoni, A.L. and De Figueiredo,, É.A.P. (2003) Performance of female broiler breeders submitted to different feeding schedules. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola 5: 197–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jong, I.C., Fillerup, M. and Blokhuis, H.J. (2005) Effect of scattered feeding and feeding twice a day during rearing on indicators of hunger and frustration in broiler breeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 92: 61–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jong, I.C., Van Voorst, S., Ehlhardt, D.A. and Blokhuis, H.J. (2002) Effects of restricted feeding on physiological stress parameters in growing broiler breeders. British Poultry Science 43: 157–168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duncan, I.J.H. and Kite, V.G. (1987) Some investigations into motivation in the domestic fowl. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 18: 387–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duncan, I.J.H., Hocking, P.M. and Seawright, E. (1990) Sexual behaviour and fertility in broiler breeder domestic fowl. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26: 201–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emery, D.A., Vohra, R. and Ernst, R.A. (1984) The effect of cyclic and constant ambient temperatures on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, and shell thickness. Poultry Science 63: 2027–2035.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farmer, M. and RolandD.A., D.A., Sr. (1982) Calcium utilization in the laying hen. Poultry Science 61: 1378 (Abstract).Google Scholar
Farmer, M., RolandD.A., D.A., Sr., Brake, J. and Eckman, M.K. (1983a) Calcium metabolism in broiler breeder hens. 1. Calcium status of the digestive tract of broiler breeders throughout a 24 hour period. Poultry Science 62: 459–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, M., Roland, D.A. Sr. and Eckman, M.K. (1983b) Calcium metabolism in broiler breeder hens. 2. The influence of the time of feeding on calcium status of the digestive system and egg shell quality in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 62: 465–471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harms, R.H. (1991) The influence of changing time of feeding on performance of broiler breeder hens. Poultry Science 70: 1695–1698.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harms, R.H., Bootwalla, S.M. and Wilson, H.R. (1984) Performance of broiler breeder hens on wire and litter floors. Poultry Science 63: 1003–1007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrison, P.C. and Biellier, H.V. (1969) Physiological response of domestic fowl to abrupt changes of ambient air temperature. Poultry Science 48: 1034–1043.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hocking, P.M. (1993) Welfare of broiler breeder and layer females subjected to feed and water control during rearing: quantifying the degree of restriction. British Poultry Science 34: 53–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hocking, P.M., Maxwell, M.H. and Mitchell, M.A. (1993) Welfare assessment of broiler breeder and layer females subjected to food restriction and limited access to water during rearing. British Poultry Science 34: 443–458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hocking, P.M., Maxwell, M.H. and Mitchell, M.A. (1996) Relationships between the degree of food restriction and welfare indices in broiler breeder females. British Poultry Science 37: 263–278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, B.O. and Gilbert, A.B. (1984) Induction of egg shell abnormalities in domestic fowls by administration of adrenaline. IRCS Medical Science 12: 969–970.Google Scholar
Hughes, B.O., Gilbert, A.B. and Brown, M.F. (1986) Categorisation and causes of abnormal egg shells: relationship with stress. British Poultry Science 27: 325–337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnston, N.P. and Parker, J.E. (1970) Effect of time of oviposition in relation to insemination on fertility of chicken hens. Poultry Science 49: 325–327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kohne, H.J., Boone, M.A. and Jones, J.E. (1973) The effect of feed consumption on the survival time of adult turkey hens under conditions of acute thermal stress. Poultry Science 52: 1780–1783.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lake, P.E. and Wood-Gush, D.G.M. (1956) Diurnal rhythms in semen yields and mating behaviour in the domestic cock. Nature 178: 853.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leeson, S. (2000) Time to feed your breeders. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/poultry/facts/timefeed.htm Accessed on 29 August 2005.Google Scholar
Lepkovsky, S., Chari-Bitron, R., Lemmon, R.M., Ostwald, R.G. and Dimick, M.K. (1960) Metabolic and anatomic adaptation in chickens “trained” to eat their daily food in two hours. Poultry Science 39: 385–389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, P.D. and Perry, G.C. (1988) Effect of a single or double daily allocation of food on shell weight and oviposition time of broiler breeder hens. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Poultry Breeders Conference pp. 72–78. The West of Scotland College, Ayr.Google Scholar
Lewis, P.D., Backhouse, D. and Gous, R.M. (2004) Photoperiod and oviposition time in broiler breeders. British Poultry Science 45: 561–564.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mcdaniel, G.R., Brake, J. and Eckman, M.K. (1981) Factors affecting broiler breeder performance. 4. The interrelationship of some reproductive traits. Poultry Science 58: 10–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, P.C. and Sunde, M.L. (1975) The effects of precise constant and cyclic environments on shell quality and other lay performance-factors with Leghorn pullets. Poultry Science 54: 36–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peebles, E.D. and Brake, J. (1985) Relationship of eggshell porosity to stage of embryonic development in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 64: 2388–2391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RolandD.A., D.A., Sr. (1982) Relationship of body-checked eggs to photoperiod and breaking strength. Poultry Science 61: 2338–2343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RolandD.A., D.A., Sr.. (1984) Egg shell quality I: The body-checked egg. World's Poultry Science Journal 40: 250–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RolandD.A., D.A., Sr. and Farmer, M. (1984) Egg shell quality II: Importance of time of calcium intake with emphasis on broiler breeders. World's Poultry Science Journal 40: 255–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roque, L. and Soares, M.C. (1994) Effects of eggshell quality and broiler breeder age on hatchability. Poultry Science 73: 1838–1845.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Samara, M.H., Robbins, K.R. and Smith, M.O. (1996) Interaction of feeding time and temperature and their relationship to performance of the broiler breeder hen. Poultry Science 75: 34–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savory, C.J. and Maros, K. (1993) Influence of degree of food restriction, age and time of day on behaviour of broiler breeder chickens. Behavioural Processes 29: 179–190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savory, C.J., Maros, K. and Rutter, S.M. (1993) Assessment of hunger in growing broiler breeders in relation to a commercial restricted feeding programme. Animal Welfare 2: 131–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simon, J. (1973) Influence d'un temps d'alimentation limité à deux heures par jour chez la poulette et chez la pondeuse de souche ponte. 4th European Poultry ConferenceLondon 203–210.Google Scholar
Sykes, A.H. (1955) The effect of adrenaline on oviduct motility and egg production in the fowl. Poultry Science 34: 622–628.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tullet, S.G. (1978) Pore size versus pore number in avian eggshells. In: Piiper, J. (ed.) Respiratory Function in Birds, Adult and Embryonic, pp. 219–226. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Upp, C.W. (1928) Preferential mating of fowls. Poultry Science 7: 225–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Middelkoop, J.H. (1971) Shell abnormalities due to the presence of two eggs in the shell gland. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 35: 122–127.Google Scholar
Warren, D.C. and Schnepel, E.L. (1940) The effect of air temperatures on eggshell thickness in the fowl. Poultry Science 19: 67–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, H.R. and Keeling, L.J. (1991) Effect of time of feeding on oviposition time and production parameters in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 70: 254–259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, H.R., Mather, F.B., Brigmon, R.L., Besch, E.L., Dugan, V.P. and Boulos, N.Z. (1989) Feeding time and temperature interactions in broiler breeders. Poultry Science 68: 608–616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wood-Gush, D.G.M. and Gilbert, A.B. (1964) The control of the nesting behaviour of the domestic hen. II. The role of the ovary. Animal Behaviour 12: 451–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood-Gush, D.G.M. and Gilbert, A.B. (1973) Some hormones involved in the nesting behaviour of hens. Animal Behaviour 21: 98–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed