The Influence of Feed Intake During the Growing Period on the Subsequent Performance of Laying Hens

IN RECENT years various limited feeding plans for rearing laying pullets have been given wide publicity in the popular press. Some breeders have suggested that their particular strain of birds require special feeding methods including some type of restricted feed intake during the growing period in order to produce satisfactorily. Direct experimental evidence on this subject has been scanty. Scott and Payne (1941) studied the influence of restricting feed on subsequent performance of breeding turkeys. The plan was to restrict the feed intake sufficiently beginning at 26 weeks of age, to maintain body weight without any weight gain. In two years’ work they restricted the feed during the first year to 78% of full feed and the following year to 61% of full feed. The 78% restriction had no effect on subsequent reproduction of the birds but when they restricted feed to 61 % of the full fed birds hatchability …