Effects of Different Feeding Frequencies on Broiler Chickens’ Growth Performance and Intestinal Villus Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2024.7353Keywords:
Broiler, Feed restriction, Compensatory growth, Villus, Small intestineAbstract
This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding frequency on growth performance and development of small intestine in broiler chickens from 1 to 14 days of age. Forty Aber acres broiler chicks at 1 day old were randomly assigned to 4 treatments as follows - T1: feeding once daily (100 % diet at 6:30), T2: feeding twice daily (50 % diet at 6:30 and 18:30), T3: feeding 4 times per day (25 % diet at 6:30, 11:30, 16:30 and 21:30) and T4: feeding 6 times per day (16.67 % diet at 6:30, 9:30, 12:30, 15:30, 18:30 and 21:30). Chickens were fed with commercial broiler rations for 14 days. Growth performance parameters including BW, BW gain, FI and FCR were determined. Changes in intestinal villus morphology were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) dye staining. Results showed that chickens fed 4 and 6 times per day had lower (p < 0.05) BW, BW gain and FI when compared with chickens fed once daily, from 1 to 7 days of age. However, at 14 days of age, there were no significant differences in all parameters of growth performance. There were no changes in gross anatomy of the small intestine. Fixed feeding 4 and 6 times per day resulted in the villus height of the jejunum and ileum being higher (p < 0.05) than when feeding once a day. Feeding 6 times per day resulted in the highest villus density in jejunum among feed regimes. The results suggested that both once and multiple daily feedings were suitable approaches to achieve optimum growth performance for broiler chickens from 1 to 14 days of age. Fixed feeding 6 times per day being the most beneficial for improving intestinal villus development.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Feeding frequency is one of feed restriction method in broilers management
- From 1 to 7 days of age feeding fed 4 and 6 times per day show lower growth performance than feeding once daily, but not for 14 days of age
- Fixed feeding 4 and 6 times per day present the villus height at jejunum and ileum higher than feeding once daily
- Fixed feeding 6 times per day is the most effective solution for enhancing intestinal villus development
- Here, the experiment demonstrates for the first time that the compensatory growth effects by frequently feeding is at least mediated through adaptation of villus morphology in the small intestine along with improved feed consumption
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Downloads
Metrics
References
OECD/FAO. OECD-FAO agricultural outlook 2022 - 2031. OECD Publishing, Paris, France, 2022, p. 189-206.
M Sahraei. Feed restriction in broiler chickens production: A review. Biotechnol. Anim. Husbandry 2012; 28, 333-52.
MA Tavárez and FSDL Santos. Impact of genetics and breeding on broiler production performance: a look into the past, present, and future of the industry. Anim. Front. 2016; 6, 37-41.
AMJB Adikari, WGSB Nandasena, WAD Nayananjalie and BR Jayathilaka. Effects of feeding frequency on fat deposition and growth performance in broiler chickens. Int. J. Livest. Res. 2018; 8, 62-72.
AK Zubair and S Leeson. Compensatory growth in the broiler chicken: A review. World’s Poult. Sci. J. 1996; 52, 189-201.
S Mehmood, A Sahota, M Akram, K Javed, J Hussain, H Sharif, S Haroon and AS Jatoi. Influence of feed restriction regimes on growth performance of broilers with different initial weight categories. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2013; 23, 1522-6.
I Nir, Z Nitsan, EA Dunnington and PB Siegel. Aspects of food intake restriction in young domestic fowl: metabolic and genetic considerations. World’s Poult. Sci. J. 1996; 52, 251-66.
MFA Farghly and MN Makled. Application of intermittent feeding and flash lighting regimens in broiler chickens management. Egypt. J. Nutr. Feeds 2015; 18, 261-76.
GP Jones and DJ Farrell. Early-life food restriction of broiler chickens. I. Methods of application, amino acid supplementation and the age at which restrictions should commence. Br. Poult. Sci. 1992; 33, 579-87.
K Lee and S Leeson. Performance of broilers fed limited quantities of feed or nutrients during seven to fourteen days of age. Poult Sci. 2001; 80, 446-54.
S Leeson and AK Zubair. Nutrition of the broiler chicken around the period of compensatory growth. Poult. Sci. 1997; 76, 992-9.
DJ Novel, J Ng’ambi, D Norris and CA Mbajiorgu. Effect of different feed restriction regimes during the starter stage on productivity and carcass characteristics of male and female ross 308 broiler chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 2009; 8, 35-9.
NH Aziz, RB Saeed, SA Akram and SMS Kirkuki. Effect of feeding frequency on productive broiler performance. J. Anim. Poult. Prod. 2021; 12, 91-4.
MFA Farghly and HHM Hassanien. Effect of feed freqencies and durations on performance of broiler chicks. Egypt. Poult. Sci. 2012; 32, 273-88.
EK Aziz and SR Masoud. The effect of feeding frequency and amount on performance, behavior and physiological responses of broilers. J. Appl. Vet. Sci. 2021; 6, 76-85.
ZL Liu, JJ Xue, XF Huang, Y Luo, MR Liang, CJ Li, QG Wang and C Wang. Effect of feeding frequency on the growth performance, carcass traits, and apparent nutrient digestibility in geese. Poult. Sci. 2020; 99, 4818-23.
KO Kareem-Ibrahim, OTF Abanikannda, S Nwadialo and MF Demehin. Comparative study of feeding frequencies on growth characteristics of four strains of broiler chickens. Niger. J. Anim. Sci. 2022; 24, 30-8.
K Yamauchi, T Buwjoom, K Koge and T Ebashi. Histological intestinal recovery in chickens refed dietary sugar cane extract. Poult. Sci. 2006; 85, 645-51.
B Dastar, S Esfandyarpour, F Samadi, A Shabani and J Rajani. Compensation of detrimental effects of feed restriction on growth performance and intestinal morphometric indices in broiler chickens by synbiotics. Eur. Poult. Sci. 2017; 81, 1-12.
F Faul, E Erdfelder, A-G Lang and A Buchner. G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav. Res. Meth. 2007; 39, 175-91.
W Aengwanich and S Suchint. Pathology of heart, lung, liver and kidney in broilers under chronic heat stress. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Tech. 2005; 26, 417-24.
S Khempaka, S Okrathok, L Hokking, B Thukhanon and W Molee. Influence of supplemental glutamine on nutrient digestibility and utilization, Small intestinal morphology and gastrointestinal tract and immune organ developments of broiler chickens. World Acad. Sci. Eng. Tech. 2011; 80, 606-8.
MN Makeld, HAF Mahmoud, M El-Sagheer and AM Marwa. Effect of diurnal discontinuousfeeding of optimal and sub-optimal levels of lysine and/or methionine on broilers performance. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Mediterranean Summit of WPSA and 6th International Poultry Conference, Alexandria, Egypt. 2012, p. 468-82.
Y Pinchasov and Y Noy. Comparison of post‐hatch holding time and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks and Turkey poults. Br. Poult. Sci. 1993; 34, 111-20.
PF Giachetto, EN Guerreiro, JA Ferro, MIT Ferro, RL Furlan and M Macari. Performance and hormonal profile in broiler chickens fed with different energy levels during post restriction period. Pesq. Agropec. Bras. 2003, 38, 697-702.
L Li, G Zhao, Z Ren, L Duan, H Zheng, J Wang and Y He. Effects of early feed restriction programs on production performance and hormone level in plasma of broiler chickens. Front. Agr. Chin. 2011; 5, 94-101.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Walailak University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
