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Effect of Time of Weighing on Flock Body Weight in Broiler Breeder Pullets

Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada; Phone: (403) 492-3234; FAX: (403) 492-9130

Correspondence: F. E. Robinson

Despite the importance of body weight control in breeder pullet management, limited published data exist concerning the optimum time of day to weigh the birds. To study the variation in flock body weight (BW) a 2-day cycle of skip-a-day feeding, 157 Shave Starbro broiler breeder pullets were distributed into three floor pens of 52 or 53 birds each. Skip-a-day feed restriction began at 3 wk of age. At 11 wk, all birds were individually weighed in the morning and afternoon of both non-feed and feed days. The pullets were consistently and significantly heaviest in the afternoon of feed days and lightest in the afternoon on non-feed days. The heaviest 6% and the lowest weight 6% of the flock followed the same bi-daily growth trends. Uniformity estimates were consistently higher on feed days. Under skip-a-day feeding, pullet growth curves fluctuate considerably on a bi-daily basis. It is important to be aware of this change in pullet BW both within one day and between feed and non-feed days when determining pullet weighing times.

Key Words: Body weight • broiler breeder • feed restriction • uniformity • weighing time