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Forty-Eight-Hour Cycle Sequential Feeding with Diets Varying in Protein and Energy Contents: Adaptation in Broilers at Different Ages

I. Bouvarel^*,1, A. M. Chagneau, P. Lescoat, S. Tesseraud and C. Leterrier

^* Institut Technique de l’Aviculture, BP1, 37380 Nouzilly, France; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UR83 Recherches Avicoles, 37380 Nouzilly, France; and INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la reproduction et du comportement, 37380 Nouzilly, France

¹ Corresponding author: bouvarel.itavi{at}tours.inra.fr

Sequential feeding is a cyclic feeding program with 2 diets for 1 or several days used to induce lower feed costs or to improve welfare quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of energy [2,800 (E–) and 3,200 kcal/kg (E+)] and protein [230 (P+) and 150 g/kg (P–)] content on daily feed intake and growth in 900 male broiler chickens, and to compare these results with standard feeding (CP = 190 g/kg and ME = 3,000 kcal/kg). Sequential feeding was carried out during 48-h cycles in 2 periods (period 1 = 10 to 17 d of age, period 2 = 18 to 29 d of age). Four treatments were compared during periods 1 and 2: 1) complete diet (C), 2) alternation of diets varying in CP (SP = P+ followed by P–), 3) in energy (S_E = E– followed by E+), 4) in protein and energy contents (S_EPA = P+E– followed by P–E+). A fifth treatment (S_EPB) used an alternation in protein and energy contents during period 2 only. All chickens received the same feed during the finishing period (30 to 35 d of age). Feed intake was similar with sequential feeding and complete feed, but in proportion to total feed intake, chickens overconsumed high energy feeds (E+ and E+P–) during each period, and P– only for period 2 (P < 0.01). During period 2, overconsumption was greater with S_EPA than S_EPB (P < 0.01). Weight gain was similar for all treatments during period 1. At 35 d of age, S_E chickens were heavier than S_EPA and S_EPB (P < 0.01). Feed to gain ratio was similar for all treatments for period 1 and increased for S_P, S_EPA, and S_EPB compared with C and S_E for period 2 (P < 0.01). Walking ability, carcass conformation, breast yield, and abdominal fat did not differ between treatments, but ultimate pH of breast meat was improved with S_P. In conclusion, growth and slaughtering performances similar to standard feeding can be reached with 48-h cycle sequential feeding using diets varying in protein and energy contents.

Key Words: sequential feeding • growth performance • protein • energy • feeding behavior