HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Enting, H. Articles by van der Aar, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Enting, H. Articles by van der Aar, P. J.

The Effect of Low-Density Broiler Breeder Diets on Performance and Immune Status of their Offspring

H. Enting^*,1, W. J. A. Boersma, J. B. W. J. Cornelissen, S. C. L. van Winden^*,, M. W. A. Verstegen and P. J. van der Aar^*,2

^* Schothorst Feed Research, 8200 AM Lelystad, the Netherlands; Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands; Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK; and Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands

² Corresponding author: pvdaar{at}schothorst.nl

Effects of low-density broiler breeder diets on offspring performance and mortality were studied using 2,100 female and 210 male Cobb 500 breeders. Breeder treatments involved 4 experimental groups and a control group with normal density diets (ND, 2,600 kcal of AME/kg during rearing and 2,800 kcal of AME/kg during laying). In treatment 2, nutrient densities were decreased by 12% (LD12) and 11% (LD11) during the rearing and laying periods, respectively, whereas in treatment 3, nutrient densities were decreased by 23% (LD23) and 21% (LD21) during the rearing and laying periods, respectively. The nutrient density in these treatments was decreased through inclusion of palm kernel meal, wheat bran, wheat gluten feed, and sunflower seed meal in the diets. Treatment 4 included diets with the same nutrient densities as in treatment 2 but included oats and sugar beet pulp (LD12^OP and LD11^OP). In treatment 5, the same low-density diet was given to the breeders as in treatment 2 during the rearing period, but it was followed by a normal density diet during the laying period (LD12-ND). Treatments were applied from 4 to 60 wk of age. On low-density diets, offspring showed an increased 1-d-old weight. As compared with offspring of breeders that received ND, the d 38 live weight of chickens from 29-wk-old breeders fed LD11 was improved. Mortality was reduced in offspring from 60-wk-old parent stock given low-density diets. The IgM titers in 35-d-old offspring from eggs with a lower-than-average weight were reduced when 29-wk-old broiler breeders were fed low-density diets. In offspring from eggs with a higher-than-average weight from 60-wk-old parent stock given LD11 or LD21 diets, IgM titers were higher compared with ND. It was concluded that low-density broiler breeder diets can improve offspring growth rates, reduce mortality, and reduce or increase immune responses, depending on breeder age and egg weight.

Key Words: broiler breeder • nutrient density • offspring performance

¹ Present address: Nutreco PRRC, Ctra. CM-4004 Km. 10.5, 45950 Casarrubios del Monte, Spain.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Yassin, A. G. J. Velthuis, M. Boerjan, and J. van Riel Field study on broilers' first-week mortality Poult. Sci., April 1, 2009; 88(4): 798 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]