The Effect of Feeding Frequency and Amount on Performance, Behavior and Physiological Responses of Broilers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conclude the effect of feed frequencies and amount on growth performance, carcass traits, physiological responses and behaviors of broilers chicks. One hundred Ross broiler chicks at 7 days old were randomly assigned into five regimens (20 chicks per each program with two replicate). Experimental design were as follows; T1: feeding once a day (100% diet at 6:30), T2: two equal feedings per day (50% of total diet at 6:30 and 18:30), T3: two feedings per day (75% at 6:30 and 25% at 18:30), T4: three equal feedings per day (33.33% at 6:30, 12:30 and 18:30) and T5: three feedings per day as 50% of diet at 6:30, 25% at 12:30 and 25% at 18:30. Chicks were fed with commercial broiler diet for five weeks. The obtained results indicated that offering two equal feeding times per day was significant (p<0.05) improved overall body weight, body weight gain and average daily gain of broiler chicks. Chicks fed single, twice per day and three times of 4th regimen showed higher feed intake than chicks of 3rd and 5th regimens. Feed frequencies had significant (P<0.05) effect on percent of carcass, spleen and intestine percentage. High proportion of chicks of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th feeding regimens showed significant more feeding and preening behaviors than chicks of 5th regimen. Chicks of 5th regimen exhibited significantly higher foraging behavior than those of 3rd and 4th regimens. Moreover, feeding frequency with different amount of feed decreased the duration of tonic immobility test means less stressful and high chick welfare. T2 showed significant increasing on heterophil, total protein, globulin, serum glucose and growth hormone levels in comparison to the other groups, as well as a lower albumin/globulin ratio and albumin. In conclusion, two equal feeding per day (T2) might be a desirable feeding approach that might produce good healthy birds with maximum growth performance and improved welfare.