Restricted Feeding of Broiler Type Replacement Stock

IN RECENT years there has been much interest in the various feeding systems in growing replacement stock for both egg strain and meat strain pullets. These feeding systems have principally been a comparison of full-feeding (allowing the birds to consume all they will eat of a “high” energy type ration) versus restricted feeding (allowing the birds less feed daily than they would consume). Recent emphasis has been on the various means of accomplishing restriction. These means are: (1) limiting the feeding time of the bird, (2) limiting the feed intake of a “high” energy grower formula, (3) limiting the mash feeding to a certain number of days per week, (4) using a grain-mash system, or (5) adding fiber to the formula to give the desired energy level per pound of feed. The latter method, of adding fiber at levels of 6–20% of the ration, is the more recently developed …