Effect of Feeding Frequency on the Performance and Gut Health of Broilers
U. G. Kale
Department of Poultry Science, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
A. S. Kadam
Department of Poultry Science, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
V. D. Lonkar
*
Department of Poultry Science, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
U. M. Tumlam
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
S. N. Jadhav
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
S. M. Bhalerao
Department of Animal Nutrition, Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal Dist. Satara 412 801, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 400 006, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The six-week experiment was conducted to assess the impact of feeding frequency on the performance and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 225 day-old Cobb-430Y chicks were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (A, B, and C), each containing 75 birds with five replicates of 15 birds. Feeding schedules differed among treatments: group A received feed once daily (7:00 AM), group B twice daily (7:00 AM and 5:00 PM), and group C thrice daily (7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM). The birds were raised under a deep-litter system and provided isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn-soybean diets on an ad libitum basis. Performance parameters were recorded at a weekly interval and presented for the overall period of six weeks. The carcass parameters, histomorphology of the duodenum and jejunum, and cecal digesta microbial counts were assessed on the 35th day of age. The economics of broilers were estimated at the end of six weeks. Results indicated that the variation in feeding frequency from once to twice or thrice daily did not significantly influence final body weight, cumulative weight gain, overall feed conversion ratio, or total feed intake. Carcass traits were unaffected by feeding frequency, except for abdominal fat, which was significantly (P< .05) reduced in birds fed thrice daily compared with those fed once or twice daily. Intestinal morphology showed improvement with increased feeding frequency, as birds fed thrice daily exhibited significantly (P< .05) greater jejunal villus height and a higher duodenal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. The birds receiving feed twice daily showed increased caecal Lactobacillus populations and higher total viable bacterial counts, whereas E. coli populations were not affected. From an economic perspective, feeding three times daily resulted in a lower feed cost per unit of live body weight. In conclusion, the broilers may be fed ad libitum feed with the adoption of thrice daily feeding practices for improving cost effectiveness, lean meat production, and supporting gut health.
Keywords: Broilers, feeding frequency, performance, gut health