Effects of Feed Restriction on Reproductive Performance of Broiler Breeder Males

Broiler breeder males were restricted from 28 to 40 weeks of age to 100% of the average feed consumed for a 20-day pretreatment period (25 to 28 weeks), or 85% or 70% of the average feed consumed for pretreatment period. The effects of the feed restriction were determined on body weights, fertility, hatchability, chick production, and testes size. The reproductive performance of breeder males was not affected by feed restriction, but testes size was reduced as a result of restricting feed intake. Males receiving 70% feed restriction gained only 80 g from 28 to 40 weeks of age, indicating that approximately 400 kcal metabolizable energy per day is adequate to maintain body weight of broiler breeder males averaging 3.8 kg at 28 weeks of age.