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This study was carried out to determine the effect of Various quantitative and qualitative feed restriction methods during the growing period on the reproductive performance of broiler breeder hens. Normal and low density diets were offered to broiler breeder pullets by three different qualitative restriction methods (every day, skip-a-day, five days in a week). The trial was conducted on 864 4 to 72 week old Avian AK-34 broiler breeder hens. The qualitative and quantitative restriction methods, examined during the growing period, had no significant effect on egg production, chick weight, settable egg rate, egg yolk and egg albumen weight, egg specific gravity, classification of unsettable eggs, body weight of hens, fertility or hatchability. Enriching the diet density increased hatchable egg weight (P<0.01). Quantitative feed restriction methods had a significant effect on hatchable egg weight also (P<0.01). Egg shell weight of the pullets fed five days a week was lower than that with the other treatments (P<0.01). Livability of hens was significantly affected by the quantitative restriction methods during the egg production period. Both of the restriction methods had a significant effect on the final body weight of chicks sired from hens at 30 weeks of age (P<0.01), but were not significant at 60 weeks of age (P>0.05). Quantitative restriction methods significantly affected the feed convertion rate of chicks in both performance tests. |
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