Effect of feed restriction on the maintenance energy requirement of broiler breeders

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the ad libitum and restricted feeding regimen on fasting heat production (FHP) and body composition. METHODS: Twelve Hubbard broilers breeders were selected with the same body weight and submitted in two feeding regimes: Restricted (T1) with feed intake of 150 g/bird/d and ad libitum (T2). The birds were randomly distributed on the treatments in two runs with three replications per treatment (per run). The birds were adapted to the feed regimens for ten days. After that, they were allocated in the open-circuit chambers and kept for three days for adaptation. On the last day, oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)) were measured by 30 h under fasting. The respiratory quotient (RQ) was calculated as the VCO(2)/VO(2) ratio, and the heat production (HP) was obtained using the Brower equation (1985). The FHP was estimated throughout the plateau of HP 12 hours after the feed deprivation. The body composition was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning at the end of each period. Data were analyzed for one-way analysis of variance using the Minitab software. RESULTS: The daily feed intake was 30 g higher to T2 (p<0.01) than the T1. Also, the birds of the T2 had significatively (p<0.05) more oxygen consumption (+3.1 L/kg(0.75)/d) and CO(2) production (+2.2 L/kg(0.75)/d). That resulted in a higher FHP 359±14 kJ/kg(0.75)/d for T2 than T1 296±17.23 kJ/kg(0.75)/d. In contrast, the RQ was not different between treatments, with an average of 0.77 for the fasting condition. In addition, protein and fat composition were not affected by the treatment, while a tendency (p<0.1) was shown to higher bone mineral content on the T1. CONCLUSION: The birds under ad libitum feeding had a higher maintenance energy requirement but their body composition was not affected compared to restricted feeding.