Effect of feeding programme on the metabolisable energy of feed for broilers: starvation-feeding-starvation vs ad libitum feeding
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The determination of metabolizable energy ( ME ) in feed ingredients is essential for accurate diet formulation and growth management in broiler. However, the precision of ME determination may be influenced by the choice of feeding program. This study tested the hypothesis that the starvation-feeding-starvation ( SFS ) program would yield ME values that differ from those obtained with a continuous ad libitum feeding ( ALF ). A total of 120 male Arbor Acres Plus broilers (21 days old; BW = 1 087 ± 15 g) were randomly allocated to six treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial design. The treatments included a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CSMBD) , a wheat diet, and a cottonseed meal diet, combined with either SFS or ALF. In the SFS program, broilers were fasted for 17 hours to empty the digestive tract, given access to the diet for 55 hours, and then fasted again for 17 hours. In the ALF program, diet was available continuously for 72 hours. BW was monitored using a balance sensor fixed in the cage and recorded by software. From 22 to 28 days of age, broilers in the SFS program exhibited BW loss, whereas those in the ALF maintained BW gain. Consequently, final BW, average daily gain ( ADG ), average daily feed intake ( ADFI ) and excreta output were lower in SFS than ALF, regardless of diet ( P < 0.01). Feeding program did not affect the ME of any test diet or ingredient. A positive trend was observed between ADFI and apparent ME in the CSMBD and cottonseed meal diet (0.05 < P < 0.10), but no correlation was found between ADFI and nitrogen-corrected apparent ME in the CSMBD or cottonseed meal diet, or between ADFI and ME in the wheat diet, wheat or cottonseed meal. Linear regressions of ADG on ADFI or intake of ME and metabolizable CP ( MCP ) were significant under both feeding program ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the R 2 for these regressions were higher in SFS than in ALF. These findings indicate that although the feeding program does not alter ME values, the SFS program provides more precise measurement of ADFI and intake of ME and MCP in relation to broiler growth than the ALF program. Therefore, the SFS program may be preferable when reduced variance is critical, whereas the ALF program remains suitable when animal welfare considerations take precedence.
Source: animal
Authors: H.S. Liu, T.T. Sun, X.M. Ye, Y.M. Wang, J.J. Xie, F. Zhao
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,000
OpenAlex ID: W4415554355