Restricted Feeding of Growing Pullets

THE general effects of restricted feeding on the performance of several species of domestic and laboratory animals were reviewed by Fuller (1958) and Gowe et al. (1960). Gowe et al. (1960) pointed out there was abundant evidence to show that, when feed is restricted early enough during the growing period, there is a reduction in body weight and a delay in sexual maturity in all species. In some (mouse, rat, dog) there was substantial evidence that longevity was also improved. Studies with the mouse have shown that its total reproductive capacity was increased by severely restricting feed past the normal age of reproduction (Visscher et al., 1952). Lagervall (1958) reported that mice reared on a low plane of nutrition and kept on a high plane after maturity had the best reproductive record. More recent work by Ross (1961) with rats showed that longevity is increased more by restricting both calories…