<b>Feathering of broiler chickens: effect of feed restriction and room temperature</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v27i3.1211

Abstract

The effect of feed restriction on feathering was studied in broilers raised under different temperatures. For qualitative feed restriction trial, experiment 1, 900 Cobb-500 chicks were used in a completely randomized design in 3 x 3 factorial scheme (3 feed programs: Control – 2,950 kcal EM.kg-1 and 22% of CP; Protein Restriction – 2,950 kcal EM.kg-1 and 17% of CP; Energy Restriction – 2,500 kcal EM.kg-1 and 22% of CP; and 3 temperatures: cold, neutral and hot) with 9 treatments and 5 repetitions. Energy and Protein restriction reduced feathering. In quantitative restriction, experiment 2, 1080 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design in 3 x 3 factorial scheme (3 restriction levels: 0%, 40% and 70%; and 3 room temperatures: cold, neutral and hot) with 9 treatments and 5 repetitions. Feathering was damaged by 70% of feed restriction. The feathering seems to feel considerably the variations in diet protein and energy and at room temperature