The effect of different feeding schedules on egg quality, blood, and bone parameters in broiler breeders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate different feeding schedules and their relationship to calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) plasma levels and egg quality of broiler breeders. The feeding schedules were: single feeding at 8:00 AM; twice daily feeding (50% at 8:00 AM and 50% at 3:00 PM) and single feeding at 3:00 PM. 330 female and 45 male Cobb 500 broiler breeders were used from 40 to 60 weeks of age. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 3 treatments with 5 replicates each, with 22 females and 3 males. The nutritional requirements were according to guideline recommendations. The following parameters were assessed weekly: total egg production, egg specific gravity, egg and eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness. Ca and P plasma levels, tibia weight and its length and Seedor index were evaluated at the end of the study. To determine the effect of feeding schedules, the total calcium and phosphorus plasma at oviposition time and 21 h after oviposition was evaluated. At 60 weeks of age, tibias were taken from the right leg, dried, measured and weighted. There were no differences among treatments regarding egg production, tibia length and Seedor index. Hens fed at 8:00 AM showed higher tibia weight than hens fed twice daily. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had higher egg (P = 0.0105) and shell (P = 0.0066) weight than others, and hens fed at 3:00 PM had more specific gravity (P = 0.0219) and eggshell thickness (P = 0.0419) than hens fed at 8:00 AM. Ca (P = 0.758) and P (P = 0.811) plasma levels were higher in hens fed at 8:00 AM than hens fed at 3:00 PM after 21 h of oviposition. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had better egg quality without any change in production, as well as these hens showing higher available Ca and P plasma levels.

Performance and Egg Qualities of Isa-Brown Layers Fed Different Quantities of Feed at Varying Feeding Frequencies

“…This agreed with the report of Hall, ( 2005) who reported that the medullary bone calcium can be deposited and released in response to changes in calcium supply and demand during eggshell formation and that only an average of 4grams of calcium is required in a diet to maintain good shell quality. However, the report in this study contradicted the report of Londero et al, (2016) who reported that the practice of feeding only once a day cannot supply the nutritional need of hen, particularly for eggshell formation. The contradiction might be as a result of the different breed used for the trials.…”

Lighting, density, and dietary strategies to improve poultry behavior, health, and production

“…As far as the commercial layer is concerned, split feeding strategies in organic farming (van Krimpen et al 2018) and aviary system (Molnár et al 2018) did not affect egg production. Twice a day feeding system did not also affect the egg weight of commercial layers (Samara et al 1996;Backhouse and Gous 2005;Soltanmoradi et al 2013;Londero et al 2015Londero et al , 2016. However, the other studies on breeders claim the contrary findings in which twice a day feeding strategy positively influenced the egg weight (Spradley et al 2008;Taherkhani et al 2010;Moradi et al 2013).…”

“…However, on the other hand, improvement in egg production while feeding a standard diet twice a day has also been observed (Taherkhani et al 2010;Moradi et al 2013;Soltanmoradi et al 2013). Overall reviewing the previous studies, the older literature explained that twice a day feeding strategy did not alter the egg production except (Londero et al 2015(Londero et al , 2016, while the recent studies (onward from 2008) showed higher egg production in breeders fed twice a day. This inconsistency between different studies might be caused by their genetic differences explained by (van Emous and Mens 2021).…”

“…On the other hand, some researchers observed no effect of twice a day feeding strategy on the eggshell thickness, eggshell weight (Samara et al 1996), and the number of eggs produced (De Avila et al 2003;Backhouse and Gous 2005;Londero et al 2015Londero et al , 2016. It has been reported that feeding a standard diet twice a day did not affect the overall egg production (Samara et al 1996;De Avila et al 2003;Backhouse and Gous 2005;Londero et al 2015Londero et al , 2016. However, on the other hand, improvement in egg production while feeding a standard diet twice a day has also been observed (Taherkhani et al 2010;Moradi et al 2013;Soltanmoradi et al 2013).…”