PROGRAMS OF FEED RESTRICTION FOR BROILER BREEDERS IN REARING PHASE.

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the feed restriction programs 4/3 and 48-57-63 hours for overweight broilers breeders in rearing phase, considering the body weight or the age in the calculation of daily amount of feed. Five-hundred Cobb broiler breeders were used, cobb, allocated in boxes with groups of 25 birds. Experiment lasted from the 13th to the 24th week of age. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, totalizing four treatments (Q1, feeding based on the age; Q2, feeding based on the corporal weight; M1, method 4/3 of feed restriction; M2, method 48-57-63 of feed restriction), with five replications, being the experimental unit formed by 25 females. The corporal weight, the uniformity and the viability did not differ among the methods of feed restriction (P>0.05). The viability did not differ (P>0.05) among the amounts of feed. The breeders fed with feed based on the age had lower body weight (P<0.01)and uniformity (P<0.05) when compared to those fed based on body weight. These alimentary programs are efficient to recover the average weight of the breeders, despite the fact that they were unable to become the herds uniform, therefore confirming the necessity to group herds in accordance with body weight. The birds fed according to body weight tend to show a greater body weight and better uniformity. The feed programs do not affect the viability. KEY-WORDS: Broilers breeders. Restriction methods. Body weight. Uniformity. Viability.