HEAT PRODUCTION OF SKIP-A-DAY AND DAILY FED BROILER BREEDER PULLETS

Abstract

Four broiler breeder pullets were reared on a skip-a-day feeding regimen according to breeder recommendations; another four pullets were fed daily the same average feed intake as the skip-a-day fed birds. At 15–17 wk of age the average and diurnal pattern of heat production and respiration quotients were determined using an open-circuit respiration calorimeter. Lower body weights of the skip-a-day fed birds may have been due to the day-to-day fluctuation in nutrient availability. Skip-a-day fed birds produced more heat per kilogram body mass. The diurnal pattern of heat production and respiration quotients indicated that skip-a-day fed birds were absorbing nutrients on the feed-day but were fasting for most of the off-feed day. Key words: Broiler breeder, feed restriction, heat production