Impact of feeding program after light stimulation through early lay on the reproductive performance of broiler breeder hens.

Skip-a-day feed restriction is a common industry management technique that is used in rearing broiler breeder pullets. Often pullets are maintained on a skip-a-day feeding program after they have been photostimulated for reproduction, and in some cases until 5% egg production is reached. The current research examined whether providing daily nutrient intake during the critical period of ovarian development that follows photostimulation for reproduction improves subsequent egg production. Pullets and cockerels were fed on a skip-a-day basis during rearing. Pullets were weighed at 20 wk of age and then distributed into 30 laying pens such that each pen had a similar BW distribution. Each individual laying pen consisted of 35 hens and 4 roosters. At 21 wk of age, the birds were photostimulated for reproduction; 15 of the laying pens were placed on an every-day feeding schedule, whereas the other 15 pens were maintained on a skip-a-day feeding schedule until they reached 8% egg production at 26.5 wk of age. From 26.5 to 65 wk of age, all hens were fed on an every-day basis. The CV of BW did not differ between the hens of the 2 treatment groups at any point from 21 to 64 wk of age. Weekly percentage hen-day egg production was greater (P < 0.05) in the hens fed on the every-day versus skip-a-day program after photostimulation from wk 25 of age to 65 wk of age except for wk 29, 30, 35, 37, 39, 46, and 47 of age. Total hen-day egg production through 65 wk of age in the hens that were provided feed every day after photostimulation was greater (172 vs. 155 eggs/hen) than in hens fed on a skip-a-day basis until 26.5 wk of age. These results suggest that continuing skip-a-day feeding after photostimulation until reaching 8% egg production does not improve BW uniformity, but does cause lasting reproductive dysfunction in broiler breeder hens.