Effect of nutrition on broiler carcase composition: Influence of dietary energy content in the starter and finisher phases

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Abstract
Three isonitrogenous starter (230 g/kg) and 3 finisher diets (200 g/kg) were formulated to contain 10.78, 12.78 and 14.78 MJ AME [apparent metabolizable energy]/kg and fed to 1512 broilers in 9 treatment combinations. Birds fed the low-energy starter diet were significantly lighter (P < 0.05) and their carcasses contained proportionally less abdominal fat and total carcass fat at 24 days of age. This effect remained until 49 days of age irrespective of the finisher diet fed. The energy content of the finisher diet had no significant effect on body weight, but the proportion of abdominal fat and total carcass fat deposited was lower for birds fed the low-energy finisher.