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Feeding and Drinking Patterns of Broilers Subjected to Different Feeding and Lighting Programs

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080; Phone: (515) 294-9778; FAX: (515) 294-2255

I. L. Berry

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701

T. L. Barton and G. T. Tabler

Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701

H. Xin

This study examined the daily feeding and drinking patterns of 18,800 broiler flocks, specifically the feeding and lighting programs. The feeding and lighting programs were a) ad libitum feeding (free access to feed) with a 23-hr light and 1-hr dark (23L:1D) photoperiod; b) meal-time feeding of 2-hr on and 2-hr off, six meals per day with a 23L:1D photoperiod; and c) meal-time feeding with continuous daytime light but intermittent nighttime light, which coincided with meal hours. Drinking water was continuously available.

The ad libitum-fed boilers had more feeding activities in the morning, whereas the meal-fed broilers had more feeding activities during both morning and evening periods. Hourly feed use was much more uniform for the ad libitum-fed broilers than for the meal-fed broilers. The meal-fed broilers generally completed 70 to 75% of their meal in the first hour of the two-hour meal period, with the second hour feed use being similar to that in ad libitum feeding. Thus, the meal-fed broilers had higher peak feed demand than did the ad libitum-fed broilers. However, under intermittent nighttime lighting, the meal-fed broilers had uniform hourly feed use for the night and early morning meals. The drinking patterns of the broilers were influenced greatly by lighting programs, but were rather independent of the feeding schemes.

Key Words: Ad libitum • broiler • drinking • feeding • lighting • meal-time