Abstract
Feeding 20 min/6 hrs or skip-a-day feeding resulted in a significant reduction in live weight and carcass weight at market age. Compensatory growth during the period of re-alimentation was observed to be greatest in birds subjected to skip-a-day feeding and lowest in the group fasted one day a week. Abdominal fat, shank length, ulna length, ulna diameter and ulna breaking strength were significantly decreased, while relative small intestine weight, small intestine length, gizzard weight, liver weight and pancreas weight were significantly increased during the period of feed restriction. These differences, however, were eliminated by 4 weeks after removal from feed restriction. Overall feed consumption was decreased and feed conversion was slightly better in all restricted feeding groups. High bird density caused a significant reduction in body weight, a significant increase in mortality and scabby-hip syndrome, and a slight improvement in feed conversion. Ulna breaking strength as well as relative gizzard and heart weights were significantly reduced while the percentage of abdominal fat was significantly increased when birds were reared at the highest bird density. High bird density also caused a hematological stress response and a humoral immunity depression. Birds subjected to high initial brooding temperature had a significant reduction in live weight, carcass weight, shank length, keel length and ulna length at 4 weeks of age. This reduction, however, was eliminated by 8 weeks of age indicating that compensatory growth does occur. High or low initial brooding temperature had no significant affect on abdominal fat, small intestine weight and length, relative organ weights, ulna breaking strength or any blood parameters measured. A mild suppression effect on humoral immunity coupled with a significant increase in mortality indicates that the initial brooding temperature is very critical. Both broiler males and females showed an increase in abdominal fat with increased age. The quantity of abdominal fat was similar in both sexes through 49 days of age. Beyond this age, females deposited a greater amount of abdominal fat than did males. There was a high positive correlation between abdominal fat and live weight.
Vo, Kieu Van (1981). The effect of early management stresses on performance and selected physiological responses in commercial broilers. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -139205.