Restricted and full-feeding of growing pullets

Abstract

The results of a 12-year study of methods of growing New Hampshire pullets indicate that good pullets may be grown by any of the 1 1 methods studied. The results may be summarized as follows: (1) Range-reared pullets which were limited to a two-hour feeding time for five days per week and a light feeding of grain on the other two days consumed about 15 per cent less feed in 20 weeks than full-fed range-reared pullets consumed in 16 weeks. (2) Sexual maturity of the limited-fed pullets was retarded an average of 25 days and egg size was increased. (3) Growing pullets fed only whole grain and minerals while on range consumed more, but cheaper, feed during the 20-week growing period than the full-fed range-reared pullets consumed in 16 or 17 weeks, reached 10 per cent production 29 days after the full-fed pullets and 37 days later than confinement-reared pullets, and produced the largest eggs. (4) Confinement-reared pullets required slightly more feed than the others, were the earliest maturing pullets, and laid the smallest eggs. (5) The rearing methods studied had little or no effect on egg production or mortality in the laying pen. (6) Of the methods studied here, the feeding of only whole grain and oyster shell* to range-reared pullets during the growing period was the easiest to use. Its cost would depend upon market conditions. *Minerals : Crushed limestone, size .#10, may be used also. THE COVER An experimental brooder house at Reymann Memorial Farms Substation designed so that lots within treatments are the same with respect to housing.

A quantitative analysis of the literature concerning the restricted feeding of growing pullets

“…Thus, Temperton and Dudley (1941), Vondell (1943), Heuser, Norris and Bruckner (1945), Novikoff and Biely (1945), Schneider, Bohren and Anderson (1955), Ringrose (1958), Tomhave (1958) and Clark, Bletner and Cunningham (1962) found that saving in total food intake by the birds in their experiments did not exceed 12^ per cent, and delays in sexual maturity were either small or not observed.…”

“…Vondell (1943) found that pullets limited to 15 min grain feeding a day and access to mash for 2 h/d on 6 d in the week ate 29 per cent less and matured 14 d later than fully fed pullets. Heuser et al (1945) and Clark et al (1962) showed that when pullets were allowed access to mash for 2 h/d for 5 d a week, greater savings in food and lone er delays in maturity resulted than when access to food was limited on a daily basis.…”

Restricted Feeding of Growing Pullets

“…Average egg weights at 350 days of age for all years and locations showed a .3 gm. Some reports (Mac-Intyre and Aitken, 1959;and Clark et al, 1962) obtained an increase in egg weight with feed restriction, while Gowe (1961, 1964) found smaller egg size in one experiment and no difference in another when feed was restricted. The location with the "pure" strains had consistently lower egg weight than the locations with the strain crosses.…”