• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.791-799
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• 2011

This study examined the effect of restricting feed intake and the subsequent compensatory growth in Guzera females. Eighteen animals with an initial age of 21 months and a mean weight of 268.17 kg were placed in three groups according to the alimentary regime: feed ad libitum; feed restricted to 20% dry matter; and feed restricted to 40% dry matter. In the restricted feed phase, the dry mater intake decreased as the restriction levels increased, influencing the reduction in intake of other nutrients. In the realimentation phase, the 40% restricted feed group ingested more dry matter (% BW) and crude protein ($weight^{0.75}$) than the group fed ad libitum (p<0.001). The serum nutrient concentrations were inversely proportional (p<0.001) to the restriction level, and there was no difference (p>0.001) in the realimentation phase. In the restricted feed phase, the final live weight decreased (p<0.05) as the restriction level increased. For the daily mean weight gain in the control group, there was no difference (p>0.05) compared to the animals with 20% feed restriction, but this was higher than in the group with 40% feed restriction. In the re-alimentation phase, the group with 40% feed restriction achieved higher weight gain rates, which was different from the control and 20% restriction groups. In both phases, the animals in the group with 40% feed restriction presented better feed conversion which was different (p<0.05) from the control group. In the feed restriction phase, it was observed that the intake of N, nitrogen excreted in feces and urine, nitrogen balance and nitrogen retention decreased (p<0.05) with the restriction level. None of the variables were influenced in the re-alimentation phase. These results show that feed restriction by 40% can be adopted as a nutritional management practice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1319-1325
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of early feed restriction on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality in unsexed broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 350 one-day-old broiler chickens 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 chickens 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, 500 broiler chickens 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 ages of feed restriction initial timing (2, 4 or 6 days of age) and three types of feed restriction (physical restriction, meal feeding and diet dilution) were used ($3{\times}3$) in both experiments. They were feed-restricted for 6 days. Results showed that restricted broilers exhibited compensatory growth in both experiments except for diet dilution groups. In both experiments, FCR of restricted broilers was higher, whereas feed intake of them was lower during restriction period. FCR of restricted broilers was lower upon refeeding. Mortality was inconsistently affected by early feed restriction. Leg abnormality was lower in restricted broilers in both experiments. Level of feed restriction significantly influenced body weight, FCR and feed intake of restricted broilers (p<0.05), but duration of feed restriction had no effect. Type of restriction significantly affected body weight, feed intake and FCR (p<0.05). It appeared that to achieve the best result (complete compensatory growth and better FCR), broilers should be restricted at 25% ad libitum for 6 days (Experiment 1). Meal feeding started at 2 days of age would show the best performance (Experiment 2).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1996

An experiment was conducted to compare the effects of early feed restriction on the performance and abdominal fat deposition in broilers. The treatments consisted of providing feed ad libitum (Full-fed) and three feed restriction treatments of restricting feeding between 8-21 days of age (DOA) either for a duration of 7 days or 14 days. The three feed restriction treatments were Restrict 8-14 DOA, Restrict 8-21 DOA and Restrict 15-21 DOA. Live weights and feed consumption were obtained at weekly intervals. Samples of both male and female broilers were taken at 43 DOA to determine the weight of abdominal fat, liver and gizzards. Feed efficiency was generally improved by feed restriction, but a compensatory gain was not observed in the restricted groups. Broilers on restricted feeding also had lower mortality as compared to the full-fed broilers. There is no effect of early feed restriction on the weight of the abdominal fat and the dressing percentages but the weights of the liver and gizzard were affected by restriction. Also there was an effect of sex on the weights of the abdominal fat, the liver and gizzard of the males and females.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.99-101
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• 2001

Three experiments were conducted with broilers to study the effects of early feed restriction. In all studies, treatments were represented by three replicated floor pens, each containing 20 birds. In Experiment 1, broilers were fed at 0.75 kcal ME/g BW/sup0.67 for 3 d, 1.5kcal m/E BW/sup0.67 for 5 d or 2.25 kcal ME/g BW/sup0.67 for 7 d, all imposed beginning at 7 d of age. Birds were smaller following feed restriction(P<0.05), although growth compensation occurred, and at 49 d all restricted birds were same(P>0.05) to full-fed control buds in body weight. Growth compensation was associated with improved feed conversion(P<0.05), although carcass composition was unchanged. In a second study, all birds were fed at 0.75 kcal ME/g BW/sup0.67 for 3 or 5 d, starting at either 4, 7, or 10 d of age. When feed restriction was applied for shorter periods of time, growth compensation occurred(P>0.05). With more severe feed restriction, birds were smaller(P<0.05) at 49 d compared to control. Feed conversion was improved following prior feed restriction(P<0.05, 4 to 49). In a third trial, broilers were fed a starter diet diluted with 50% rice hulls. Birds failed to consume enough of this diluted feed, and so were initially smaller, However 49 d weight was not affected (P>0.05). When periods of 24 h feed withdrawal were imposed in conjunction with the diluted diets, birds were under weight at 49 d. It is concluded that physical feed restriction at 0.75 to 1.5 kcal ME/g BW$\^$0.67 imposed for 3 to 5 d in the early life currently presents the best option as a means of controlling broiler growth so as to improve feed efficiency.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.672-682
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• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic with and without feed restriction on broilers performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and feed cost of production from 1 to 56 days of age. Methods: Two hundred and forty unsexed one day-old chicks of Arbor Acres breed were used. Two trials, I and II, were conducted, with 120 birds in both. Each trial was divided into 4 equal groups. The birds in trial I were fed ad libitum throughout the experiment, while the chicks in trial II were fed ad libitum during the first week of age, then subjected to 5 hours/d of feed restriction from the beginning of the second week up to the end of the experiment. In both trials, the birds in group 1 were fed on a control diet while the other groups were given the same control diet supplemented either with a probiotic in group 2, prebiotic in group 3, or synbiotic in group 4. Results: It was found that chicks fed diets supplemented with probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic (with and without feed restriction) exhibited higher body weight and feed efficiency than chicks fed the control diets. The feed additives in both trials did not affect hemoglobin, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, and total cholesterol, except the packed cell volume which was increased in the additive treatments with restriction at the end of the experiment. Moreover, the dietary treatments did not influence the carcass yield. However, the relative weights of liver, gizzard and proventriculus, small intestine and bursa of fabricius were found to be increased. The additives decreased the visible fat in the carcass, with more decreasing effect in the additive groups with restriction. The lowest feed cost per kg of weight gain was observed in the birds fed diets supplemented with synbiotic, probiotic and prebiotic. Feed restriction improved the feed conversion ratio, economic return, but decreased the feed intake, serum total cholesterol and visible fat in comparison with non-restricted groups. Conclusion: The biological feed additives could be routinely added to broiler diets, especially when a feed restriction program is followed. Finally, it can be recommended to restrict feed, and add probiotic or synbiotic to increase weight, improve feed conversion rate and reduce feed cost of production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.330-342
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• 2022

We aimed to investigate candidate proteins related to long-term caloric restriction and feed efficiency in bovine longissimus dorsi muscle (LM). A total of 31 Korean native steers were randomly distributed to ad libitum (n = 16) or caloric restriction group (n = 15) to conduct two feeding trials for 13 mon. In the first trial (10-18 mon of age), steers were fed with 100% ad libitum (NE_g = 0.63 Mcal/kg) or caloric restriction (80% of the previous day's feed intake of ad libitum group). In the second trial (18-23 mon of age), the energy value of 100% ad libitum diet was 1.13 Mcal/kg NE_g and those in caloric restriction group diet was 0.72 Mcal/kg NE_g. At the endpoint of this experiment, in each group, 6 animals were selected with high (n = 3) or low feed efficiency (n = 3) to collect muscle tissue samples (6 animals/group). From muscle tissues of 23 mo of age, we excavated 9 and 12 differentially expressed (two-fold or more) proteins in a nutritional group and feed efficiency group using two-dimensional electrophoresis, respectively. Of these proteins, heat shock protein beta-6 was up-regulated in both the caloric restriction and the low feed efficiency group. In bovine embryonic fibroblasts, the mRNA expression of heat shock protein beta-6 increased after adipogenic differentiation, however, decreased after myogenic differentiation. Our data provide that heat shock protein beta-6 may be an adipogenic protein involved in the mechanism of caloric restriction and feed efficiency in the LM of the steer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.825-833
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• 2011

Forty-five Hisex commercial layers and forty-five local Saudi breed layers were used to determine the acceptable limit of short-term water restriction in the late phase of production, when the problem of high feed and water consumption is expected. The experiment was performed under hot and arid environmental conditions when the layers were at fifty weeks of age. Layers from each breed were randomly assigned in groups of five into nine floor pens. The average environmental temperature was 37.2-$38.6^{\circ}C$, and the relative humidity was between 20 to 37%. The trial was divided into 3 periods; control (1 week), water restriction (2 weeks) and rehydration (1 week). During the restriction period, layers from each breed were divided into three groups that received 20, 40, and 0% restriction of drinking water relative to their consumed water during the control period. During the study, feed and water consumption, body weight, changes in body weight, egg production, primary antibody response to SRBC, and rectal temperature were evaluated. Water restriction did not result in any clear effect on feed intake in either breed, however, commercial layers tended to consume less feed compared to the local breed. Body weight declined with water restriction during the first week of restriction in the commercial breed regardless of rate of restriction, but it was delayed until the second week in the local breed. Water restriction of 40% decreased egg production in both breeds but with a delay of 1 week in the local breed. Antibody level to SRBC was not affected by water restriction in the commercial line while it was highly affected in the local breed. A water restriction of 20% is considered to be an acceptable limit under the current experimental conditions without a negative effect on egg production in both breeds and considering the immune status of the local breed. Whereas, 40% restriction had a negative effect on egg production, and varied effects in the other traits in both breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.951-955
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• 1999

The effects of restricting feed [60% of ad libitum (AL) intake] (FR) or water provided from 0900 h to 1600 h, daily) (WR) or both (FWR) from 14 to 42 days of age on heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) response and performance in broiler chickens under the hot humid tropical conditions were determined. Feed and/or water limitation retarded growth, but had no adverse effect on overall feed conversion ratio and survivability. The trend for total feed and water consumption was similar to body weight pattern with AL>WR>FR>FWR. The nutritional regimens had significant effect on overall water:feed ratios with FR>(AL=WR)>FWR. Restriction of feed and/or water resulted in marked elevation of H/L ratios. As measured by H/L ratios, the effect of adapting to FR dissipated between 16 to 21 days after the onset of feed restriction. The H/L ratios of WR and FWR birds remained elevated throughout the duration of the experiment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1475-1481
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• 2002

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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.974-980
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• 2014

In semi-arid areas of Southern Africa, dehydration can compromise the performance and welfare of local chickens, particularly during the growing period when confinement is curtailed and birds are left to scavenge for feed and water. The effect of water restriction on the growth performance was compared in Naked Neck (NNK) and Ovambo (OVB) chickens that are predominant in Southern Africa. A total of 54 eight-wk-old pullets each of NNK and OVB chickens with an initial average weight of $641{\pm}10g/bird$ were randomly assigned to three water intake treatments, each having six birds for 8 wk. The water restriction treatments were ad libitum, 70% of ad libitum and 40% of ad libitum intake. Nine experimental pens with a floor space of $3.3m^2$ per strain were used. The pens were housed in an open-sided house with cement floor deep littered with a 20 cm layer of untreated wood shavings. Feed was provided ad libitum. Average daily water intake (ADWI), BW at 16 weeks of age (FBW), ADG, ADFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and water to feed ratios (WFR) were determined. Ovambo chickens had superior (p<0.05) FBW, ADG and ADWI than NNK chickens. Body weight of birds at 16 weeks of age, ADG, ADFI, ADWI, and WFR declined progressively (p<0.05) with increasing severity of water restriction while FCR values increased (p<0.05) as the severity of water restriction increased. Naked Neck chickens had better FCR at the 40% of ad libitum water intake level than Ovambo chickens. The dressing percentage per bird was higher in water restricted birds than those on ad libitum water consumption, irrespective of strain. Heart weight was significantly lower in birds on 40% of ad libitum water intake than those on ad libitum and 70% of ad libitum water intake, respectively. In conclusion, NNK chickens performed better than OVB chickens under conditions of water restriction and would be ideal to raise for meat and egg production in locations where water shortages are a major challenge.