Dietary selection of protein and energy by pullets and broilers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
1. White Leghorn pullets and sexed broilers were allowed a free choice of two “ split‐diets “ which were concentrated sources of either crude protein (463 g/kg diet) or energy (13.32 to 14.00 MJ/kg diet). 2. Pullets receiving these two diets displayed a slower, but more uniform growth rate than did birds offered a single conventional diet. Up to 11 weeks of age, control birds consumed significantly more protein while the converse was true from 11 to 20 weeks. These differences are discussed in relation to the stage of sexual maturity. 3. Broilers offered the split‐diets grew more slowly and had an inferior food conversion ratio compared with control birds fed on a two‐stage rearing programme. 4. Among the broilers offered split‐diets, the usual sex differences were not observed for weight gain or carcass fat content.