Effects of Early Feed Restriction on Breast and Leg Meat Composition and Plasma Lipid Concentration in Unsexed Broiler Chickens Reared in Cages

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of early feed restriction on growth, fat accumulation and meat composition in unsexed broiler chickens. In experiment 1, three hundred and fifty one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group and the other six groups were fed 25% ad libitum (25% multiplied by amount of feed intake of ad libitum chicks at the previous day) for 4 or 6 days, 50% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days, and 75% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days. In experiment 2, five hundred broiler chicks were divided into 10 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group. Three initial age at which broilers were restricted (2, 4 or 6 days of age) and three type of feed restriction (physical restriction, meal feeding and diet dilution) ($3{\times}3$) were examined. They were restricted feeding for 6 days. Experimental results showed that broilers fed 25% ad libitum for 4-6 days tended to reduce leg meat fat with lower abdominal fat (p<0.05) (experiment 1). Breast meat fat was significantly higher in restricted broilers (p<0.01). Plasma triglyceride was higher in broilers fed 75% ad libitum for 4-6 days. In experiment 2, abdominal fat was lower in restricted broilers (p<0.05). Breast meat fat was significantly higher (p<0.01), whereas leg meat fat was significantly lower (p<0.05) in restricted broilers. Plasma triglyceride was significantly higher in physical feed restriction for 4 days, meal feeding for 4 days and diet dilution for 6 days (p<0.05). In conclusion, to reduce fat accumulation in abdomen and leg meat, broilers should be fed 25% ad libitum for 6 days started at 4 days, or subjected to meal feeding (6 hours per day for 6 days) started at 6 days.