Early feed restriction of broilers: effects on abdominal fat pad, liver, and gizzard weights, fat deposition, and carcass composition. 1993

E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
Department of Poultry Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061-0332.

A total of five experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of early feed restriction on organ weights, fat deposition, and carcass composition in broilers. In Experiments 1 and 2, broiler chicks were reared in litter pens for 49 days, whereas Experiments 3, 4, and 5 were conducted in battery cages for 28 days. Feed restriction in all experiments was accomplished by providing male broiler chicks 40 kcal per bird per day for 7 (Experiments 1 and 2) or 6 (Experiments 3, 4, and 5) days, starting at 4 days of age. Feed restriction of broiler pullets in Experiment 1 was imposed from 4 to 9 days of age. Furthermore, the starter and grower diets in Experiment 2 contained either 1 or 4% added fat and the starter diets in Experiments 3, 4, and 5 contained either 21 or 26% protein. No significant differences were observed for abdominal fat pad and gizzard weights, liver and carcass fat, or carcass protein between early restricted birds and ad libitum controls at 49 days of age in Experiments 1 and 2. Furthermore, with the exception of Experiment 4, no differences in abdominal fat pad weights were observed among the different feeding regimens. Significant increases in abdominal fat pad weights, percentage liver, and percentage carcass fat were noted for females at 49 days of age when compared with male broilers. Carcass fat was significantly higher and carcass protein was significantly lower in broilers fed commercial versus reduced fat diets. Broilers fed a 21% protein diet had significantly heavier abdominal fat pad weights at 28 days of age than birds fed a 26% protein diet.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008297 Male Males
D009929 Organ Size The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness. Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D001823 Body Composition The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat. Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D002645 Chickens Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA. Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D005260 Female Females
D005508 Food Deprivation The withholding of food in a structured experimental situation. Deprivation, Food,Deprivations, Food,Food Deprivations
D005895 Gizzard, Avian The posterior portion of the avian stomach located between the PROVENTRICULUS and INTESTINE. It consists of a thick muscular wall and small stones (gastroliths) that function to mechanically grind SEEDS and other ingested objects. Gizzard,Ventriculus,Avian Gizzard,Avian Gizzards,Gizzards,Gizzards, Avian
D000273 Adipose Tissue Specialized connective tissue composed of fat cells (ADIPOCYTES). It is the site of stored FATS, usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES. In mammals, there are two types of adipose tissue, the WHITE FAT and the BROWN FAT. Their relative distributions vary in different species with most adipose tissue being white. Fatty Tissue,Body Fat,Fat Pad,Fat Pads,Pad, Fat,Pads, Fat,Tissue, Adipose,Tissue, Fatty
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging

Related Publications

E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
January 1986, Growth,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
August 1984, Poultry science,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
May 1957, Nutrition reviews,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
April 2004, Poultry science,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
March 1993, Poultry science,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
November 2015, Poultry science,
E A Fontana, and W D Weaver, and D M Denbow, and B A Watkins
September 1987, Poultry science,
Copied contents to your clipboard!