Studies on the Grower Diet for Meat-type Pullet

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Abstract
One hundred and twenty White Plymouth Rock female chicks each, hatched in either March or June, 1968, were separated into 4 duplicated lots of 15 chicks each at 8 weeks of age. Control replacer diet was given to 2 duplicated lots of the chicks, who reared on control starter and grower diets. High energy-low lysine replacer diet was given to the rest, who reared on low lysine starter and grower diets. Conventional layer diet were given to all of the pullets after 24 weeks of age. Chicks in one duplicated lots out of 2 on each of the replacer diets were fed ad libitum and those in the other lots were fed alternatively throughout the experimental period from 8 to 60 weeks of age. Alternative feeding of conventional replacer and layer diets retarded growth rate of pullets hatched in March by 14% and sexual maturity for 13 days, but showed actually no effect on the growth rate of pullets hatched in June. Average feed consumption in layer house was 12% less than that of the control, making final average body weight 460g lighter. No difference was observed on egg production, egg weight, mortality and other laying performance. The feeding program of high energy-low lysine replacer diet resulted in severe growth retardation by 27% in average and 28% decrease in feed consumption, regardless to the hatching month. However, the program gave favorable results on the performance in laying period, such as delayed maturity, lighter final body weight. Egg weight of pullets hatched in March was significantly heavier and their hatching egg production was more on this feeding program than those on the control ad libitum feeding program. No significant difference on egg weight and hatching egg production of pullets hatched in June were observed between two programs. The severest growth retardation and feed consumption was observed in alternative feeding program of high energy-low lysine replacer diet and conventional layer diet. The feeding program gave favorable results on the performance in laying period, such as delayed maturity, 637g lighter final body weight. Egg weight of pullets hatched in March was again significantly heavier and hatching egg production was more on the program than those on the control program, but no significant difference on egg weight and hatching egg production of pullets hatched in June were observed between two programs.

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