Effect of Quantitative Feed Restriction on Pullet Development and Subsequent Egg Production

Abstract

The effect of quantitativefeed restriction during rearing on mature body weight and subsequent egg production of
pullets was investigated in two expm'ments. All the birds in the two experiments w&efed ad libitum on 20% crude
protein and2649kcaykgME dietfrom 0-8 weeks of age. From 9 - 20 weeks,feed was denied the birds for a day after
one or two days of ad libfeeding, or restricted to 75% of ad lib intake by the control birds. Results of these two studies
showed that with restriction, a significant decrease in growth rate was obtained at 20 weeks and36 weeks. H m e r ,
the feed repmen imposed on the birds during the growing period did not have any signijcant effect on sexual
maturity nor peak production levels. Hen-day and hen-housed production levels as well as cost of feed per unit
weight or dozen eggs, were not significantly aficted by the treatments.
These studies showed that when growing birds are restricted in quantity offeed fed, they respond with a
reduction in mature weight, but the laying phase is unaficted.