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The Feeding of Complete Broiler diets Calculated from the Results of a Free-Choice Experiment

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 624-6263; FAX: (612) 625-5789

Correspondence: Craig N. Coon

Three dietary treatments and two environmental temperatures were used to evaluate the performance of growing male broilers. The experiment compared a control diet treatment consisting of a commercial-type starter, grower, and finisher; a free-choice diet treatment; and a model diet treatment with levels of nutrients based on weekly protein and energy intakes from a free-choice feeding experiment in a previously performed growth modelling study. At 6 wk, control-fed broilers had a higher body weight than broilers fed free-choice. However, at 9 wk of age there were no significant differences in body weight, carcass weight, or weight of cup-up parts within temperature treatment. Broilers fed the control diets and model diets showed greater feed efficiency. Because the control diet treatment included a higher protein level, the cost of gain was higher than for broilers receiving the lower protein diet treatments. Broilers reared for longer periods to reach larger weights more suitable for producing higher priced cup-up parts may utilize lower protein diets than recommended by NRC (1994) throughout the rearing period without a negative effect on performance, carcass composition, or economic return.

Key Words: Broilers • free-choice feeding • temperature