Self-selection of dietary protein and energy by broilers grown under a tropical climate: adaptation when exposed to choice feeding at different ages

Abstract

Three hundred broiler chicks (Hubbard) of both sexes were assigned to five feeding treatments: T0 received a complete diet (control), T1 was a choice feeding system with simultaneous access to an energy-rich feed (ground corn) and a protein concentrate (43.7% CP), and T2, T3, and T4 were introduced to choice feeding after 1, 3, and 5 wk, respectively, of consuming the complete diet. At 1-d-old, T1 chicks showed a marked preference for corn, with only 21.4% of their intake being the protein concentrate diet. Intake of the concentrate progressively increased to 40 to 45% after 3 d of adaptation, resulting in diets with 22.5 to 24.3% CP. When broilers fed the complete diet for 1 to 5 wk (T2, T3, T4) were changed to choice feeding, on the 1st d, their feed choice intake was similar to that of T1 chicks at the same age. Visual observation and tactile assessment of the feed particles during the initial period allowed the chicks to quickly evaluate the new feeds and to adapt their feeding behavior. Although total feed intake to 6 wk of age was not significantly affected by the feeding treatments, broilers on choice feeding selected diets with a lower percentage of CP and had lower live body weights at 6 wk than those fed the complete diet (T0).

Desempenho e composição corporal de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes níveis de proteína e de aminoácidos ou com livre escolha das dietas

“…Bartov & Plavinik (1998) verificaram que dietas com mais proteína proporcionaram melhor eficiência alimentar, não diferindo em consumo e ganho de peso, ao passo que Reginatto et al (2000) controle, embora, na fase inicial, as aves tenham alcançado menor GP. Yo et al (1998) inferem que a habilidade das aves em selecionar proteína é inata, uma vez que levam menos de 34 horas para se adaptarem à uma situação de livre escolha, selecionando uma dieta adequada às suas exigências. Neste experimento, parece ter havido atraso nesse ajuste, que foi mais claro após os 21 dias.…”

“…Yo et al (1998) relatam que frangos de corte, ao escolherem entre dietas com nível de proteína acima e abaixo do sugerido pelo NRC (1994), mostraram-se aptos a seleção de uma dieta equilibrada às suas exigências nutricionais. Shariatmadari & Forbes (1993) observaram que aves com livre escolha apresentaram taxa de crescimento similar às aves controle, sugerindo aptidão para suprir exigências para máxima retenção de tecido desengordurado.…”

Effect of Separating Energetic Feedstuffs in the Finisher Diet on Performance of Common Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris L.1758) Under Tropical Climate

“…Previous studies investigated on SEF in broiler chicken and ducks but the results are not consistent (Leeson and Caston, 1993;Yo et al, 1998;Bouvarel et al, 2004;Yao et al, 2006;Cerate et al, 2007;Arroyo et al, 2016).…”

“…The free choice has been experimented by many researchers and has many concepts. These different concepts included: separated calcium feeding (Banga-Mboko et al, 2001;Banga-Mboko et al, 2007;Mantsanga et al, 2016), free choice feeding (Yo, 1992;Lesson and Caston, 1993;Bati, 2003;Yao et al, 2006;Cerate et al, 2007), separate energy feeding (Yo et al, 1998;Kamokini, 2012) and sequential feeding (Bouvarel et al, 2004;Arroyo et al, 2016) and cafeteria feeding (Fanatico et al, 2013).…”

Codices miscellanearum. R. Jansen-Sieben , H. van Dijk

“…There is evidence that both wild and domesticated fowl are able to adjust their nutrient intake by selecting from various feed ingredients that match their physiological requirements (Hughes, 1984;Yo et al, 1998). Self-selection could allow the bird to meet their daily cyclic requirements for nutrients more effectively compared to offering a complete diet.…”