Avian Production Management

RESTRICTED FEEDING PROGRAMME

There are two types of restricted feeding.

• Quantitative feed restriction
  • In which the amount of feed is reduced below the normal requirement of birds.
  • This can be done on day-to-day basis or skip-a-day programme or skip-two days in a week programme.
  • But this restriction depends on the matching of the flock average body weight with standard body weight provided by the breeder.
  • Quantitative feed restriction is usually followed in commercial breeders.
• Qualitative feed restriction
  • In which the quality of the feed is reduced below the standard requirement of the bird.
  • This can be done by including unconventional feeds or lesser nutrient feed ingredients in place of high protein or high energy diet.
  • Here the quantity of allotment to the bird is not restricted.
• During restricted feeding programme, provide more number of feeders and see that all the birds are taking feed simultaneously or otherwise dominant birds will take more amount of feed and the weaker will be subjected to feed deprivation and hence the uniformity will be affected.

Advantages of feed restriction during growing period

• A considerable saving on feed cost because, only 80 % of the calculated feed requirement will be offered.
• They are likely to consume less feed per dozen eggs even during laying period when they are offered ad libitum feed.
• The pullets accumulate less fat and therefore produce more eggs.
• It is easier to identify weaker birds at an early age during feed restriction.
• Culling of such birds helps not only saving feed but also promoting layer house survivability because, healthier birds will be moving to laying house.
• Layers feed-restricted during growing period have been found to produce heavier eggs in longer clutches than those fed ad libitum.