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Effects of Body Weight Uniformity and Pre-Peak Feeding Programs on Broiler Breeder Hen Performance

Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849-5416; Phone: (334) 844-2609; Fax: (334) 844-2641

Correspondence: R. J. Lien

This study examined the effects of body weight (BW) uniformity on broiler breeder hen performance as well as the effects of post-lighting feeding programs on the uniformity and performance of nonuniform groups. Eight hundred Cobb-500 strain breeder females were housed in floor pens at 20 weeks of age. The HT treatment, which consisted of pullets that each weighed between 4.1 and 4.5 lb at housing, had high (H) uniformity and received typical (T) feed increases. Three other treatments contained 25 light (3.4 to 3.8 lb) and 25 heavy (4.8 to 5.2 lb) birds in each pen. These treatments had low (L) uniformity and were subject to either T (LT) or fast (F) (LF) increases in pre-peak feed allotments or skip-a-day (S) feeding (LS) until 25 weeks of age. Results indicated that H initial uniformity was associated with increased egg production, and F feed allotment increases stimulated early egg production. The onset of lay was delayed in birds on the LS treatment, causing a decline in cumulative egg production and an increase in mean egg weight; but weekly egg production levels had recovered by 30 weeks. Modifications to pre-peak feeding programs may be an effective method to improve uniformity of nonuniform flocks.

Key Words: Broiler breeder • body weight uniformity • feeding programs • egg production • egg weight