One hundred and eighty one-day old broilers (Arbor Acres) were used to study the effect of different procedures of skip-a-day feeding regime on broiler ferformance. Four groups were used: Group 1 (control) birds were fed ad libitum from 0 to 42 days of age; Group 2 birds were fed ad libitum for the first three weeks, then the feed was removed for one day every week until the end of the experiment; Group 3 feed was removed for one day every week for the first three weeks, then the birds were fed ad libitum up to the end of the experiment; and Group 4 the feed was removed for one day every week from the first week until the end of the experiment.
The results obtained could be summarized as follows:
At marketing age (6 weeks), the control birds had heaviest body weight (BW) of all feed restricted birds (P<0.05). Also, the overall mean indicated that the control birds showed the highest (P<0.05) daily weight gain of all other feed restricted groups. The overall mean feed consumption (FC) was decreased significantly (P<0.05) in restricted groups when compared to the control. However, there was no difference among all groups in the overall mean of feed conversion ratio (FCR).
Broilers fed ad libitum had the heaviest (P<0.05) carcass weight of all feed restricted birds. Although there were no significant differences between ad libitum and restricted fed birds in feet and shank (legs), neck, drumsticks, femurs, breast and wings weights, the ad libitum birds had significantly heavier (P<0.05) back weights than the birds of groups 2 and 4. Restricted fed birds had significantly greater (P<0.05) blood shed than ad libitum birds. It was found that broilers of control and group3 had significantly (P<0.05) less liver weights than groups 2 or 4. Birds of groups 2 and 4 had significantly greater (P<0.05) giblets weights than birds of the control group. Heart weight of the control birds was significantly greater (P<0.05) than birds of group2. However, there were no significant differences between control and all treatment groups in proventriculus, spleen, lungs, intestines, gizzard, and kidneys weights.
Birds of group 1 had significantly higher fat deposition in drumstick, femur, and breast muscles than all restricted treatments (P<0.05). There were n differences between broilers fed ad libitum and restricted birds in keel and shank length. It was proved that feed restriction had no effect on mortality rate (MR) but reduced leg problems and abnormalities. Red blood cells (RBCs) increased significantly (P<0.05) in restricted fed birds than the birds fed ad libitum. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and heamatocrit (HC) were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in ad libitum birds as compared to restricted fed birds, with the highest concentrations in groups 2 and 3. Also, HC showed a similar trend as that of Hb.
It was proved that restricting feed from 4-6 weeks of age was more economically efficient than restricting feed from 0-3, 0-6 weeks of age or than feeding ad libitum.
In general, it could be concluded that although feeding ad libitum program resulted in higher BW, but economically was less efficient than feed restriction programs. The most suitable feeding program was by using ad libitum feeding from 0-3 followed by skip-a-day from 4-6 weeks of age. This program is also recommended because it resulted in a less fat product which matches with the consumer desire and health.