Research Brief: Effect of Feed Form andFeeder Position on Feed Consumption Patterns in Male Broilers

Abstract

Highlights Male broilers showed significant preference for whole pellets as compared to a 50:50 (by mass) mixture of pellets and fines and 100% fines. Broilers preferentially consumed pellets from the mixed diets, with 65% of the mixed diet consumed as pellets. Changes in feeder location did not affect preferences, and locations of preferred feed forms were readily re-acquired after re-positioning. Variation in pellet content may reduce effective feeder space through increased competition for pellets. Abstract. Post-starter phase broiler diets are almost universally pelleted during the manufacturing process to improve nutrient density, handling characteristics, and live performance. Low pellet durability, transportation, and on-farm handling and distribution can result in pellet destruction, ultimately resulting in variation in pellet distribution in a wire-auger feeding system. Given that poultry selectively feed to meet nutritional needs, the variation in pellet distribution observed in commercial feeding systems may result in a reduction in effective feeder space through increased competition for pellets. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of mixtures of feed form and location on feed consumption patterns in broilers. Feed form treatments included 100% pellets (P), a 50:50 mix (M) of pellets and fines (by mass), and 100% fines (F). A total of 264 broilers were randomly allocated to each of six rooms at 37 days of age and provided with each of the three feed form treatments in separate feeders. Feeder locations were rotated every three days, allowing each feed form treatment to be located in all three feeder positions. Overall mean consumption rates for each feed form treatment were significantly different (p = 0.0001) with 70.3%, 21.3%, and 8.1% for the pellet only, mixed, and fines diets, respectively, and a pooled SEM of 0.02%. No significant differences were found for feeder position (p = 0.12) or test period (p = 0.91). Broilers were able to reliably re-acquire the position of preferred feed form treatments after each location change Keywords: Feeding systems, Housing design, Poultry.