Survey of intensity and age of feed restriction on performance and gut morphology in broiler chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of primary feed restriction with different intensity and time on performance and gut morphology in broiler chicks. For this purpose, a total of 350 Ross 308 broiler chicks divided into 7 treatments with 5 replicates of 10 birds per pen. Experimental treatments were included control treatment (no feed restriction), quantitative feed intensities in 3 levels (20, 40 and 60% from feed intake) and 2 ages of onset feed restriction (7 and 10 days of age) in 5 days duration. Weight gain in birds with limited nutrition not had significant difference (P>0.05) than control group in all period (1 to 49 days). However, feed intake and feed conversion ratio in chicks with feed restriction significantly decreased (P0.05) on relative weight of hot carcass, breast and thigh muscles. Feed restriction treatments among not affect on gut morphology in 28 days of age. In general, the results of this study showed that apply of quantitative feed restriction in starter period could be keep bird performance without any harmful effect.