Liver colourations as well as performance and digestive tract characteristics of broilers may change as influenced by stage and schedule of feed restriction.

To investigate the changes in characteristics (CIE L*, a* and b*) of liver colour as well as growth, carcass and digestive tract of broilers as influenced by stage and schedule of feed restriction, 400 two-week-old broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 20 floor pens. Four replicate pens of 20 equally mixed sex birds per pen were randomly allotted each of the five treatments. Birds in control were fed ad libitum. Birds in QFRM and QFRL were restricted 75% of ad libitum intake (quantitative feed restriction, QFR) for 10 days. Birds in FTRM and FTRL were fed ad libitum for 7 days per a period of 10 days with third, fifth and seventh days of feed withdrawal (feeding time restriction, FTR). The restrictions in the QFRM and FTRM started on day 14 (at middle age, M) while the restrictions in the QFRL and FTRL started on day 31 (at late age, L). The restricted broilers consumed less feed than the full-fed birds (p < 0.05). The QFRM and FTRM birds consumed less feed than QFRL and FTRL birds (p < 0.05). The body weight gain decreased by the QFRL and FTRL, the feed efficiency increased by the QFRM and FTRM compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). The QFRL and FTRL increased a* and b* values of liver and the relative weights of gut and liver, and the FTRL increased the L* value of liver compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). The QFRL and FTRL decreased the relative weight of abdominal fat compared to the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, (i) the restricted feeding at middle stage improved feed efficiency; (ii) the restricted feeding at later stage decreased growth rate and abdominal fat; and (iii) limited-time feeding during later period caused a measurable variation in the liver colour.