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Feeding Programs Designed to Modify Early Growth Rates in Male Broilers Grown to 56 Day of Age

Poultry Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; Phone: (501) 575-2065; FAX: (501) 575-3026

Correspondence: Park W. Waldroup

Two experiments studied male broilers from two commercial strains (Ross and Cobb) grown to 56 days of age and fed dietary programs suggested by various poultry breeders and nutritionists to modify early rates of growth. These programs were characterized as being low in energy, protein, or both protein and energy in the early growth phase followed by diets of higher nutrient density. Nutrient recommendations of the National Research Council served as a positive control.

Although some differences in performance were observed between the two strains, there was no interaction of strain and dietary program. One of the suggested feeding programs resulted in poor performance as compared to the positive control; however, several feeding programs resulted in 56-day body weight, feed utilization, and calorie conversion not significantly different from that of broilers fed the positive control diet. Mortality was generally low and the cause of mortality randomly distributed among ascites, sudden death syndrome, leg disorders, and unknown causes. No effect of dietary program on incidence or severity of leg disorders was evident.

Key Words: Ascites • broilers • feeding programs • leg disorders • sudden death syndrome