Effect of Diurnal Programs of Nutrient Intake on Performance of Broiler-Breeder Hens

The daily rations for two strains of broiler breeder hens on a restricted feeding program were divided among 1, 2, or 3 feeding times per day and the diet was provided either by a single medium-protein feed-mix or by dual low-protein and high-protein feed-mixes each day. Increasing the frequency of feeding to 3 times from once daily increased egg weight, decreased 36-week body weight and, during the first 10 weeks of lay, increased percent hen-day egg production. Separate provision of low- and high-protein feeds increased egg weight and decreased grams of feed per gram of egg. The effect on body weight of feeding frequency and the use of dual protein levels was greater for one strain than the other. Increasing feeding frequency increased mortality of one strain of hens. The modification of diurnal feeding pattern increased efficiency of feed utilization. Changes in the partitioning of nutrients for synthesis of egg versus body tissue may be responsible for this improvement.