Effects of Dietary Energy and Protein and Feeding Time on Broiler Performance

Seven trials, using commercial broiler chicks, were conducted to determine the effects of varying dietary energy and protein levels in combination with feeding time on growth, feed conversion, body composition, and energy and protein consumption. In three trials, diets containing 23% protein were fed in combination with energy levels of 3100, 3400, or 3700 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg. Four trials utilized diets containing 3400 kcal ME/kg in combination with protein levels of 23, 27, and 31%. The restricted feeding programs provided meals of 15 min duration either once every 2 hr or once every 4 hr, with control s receiving feed ad libitum. All trials were conducted from 2 to 8 weeks of age with weights and feed consumption determined at 2-week intervals. Increasing the dietary energy from 3100 to 3400 kcal ME/kg negated the weight depressing effects of restricted feeding. Higher energy diets provided better feed conversion, which was not affected by feeding time, while increases in dietary protein, along with changes in feeding time, significantly affected feed conversion.