Rearing early maturing pullets.

A number of experiments were undertaken using White Leghorn pullets to determine the effect of diet and growing treatment on 16-wk body weight and carcass composition. Irrespective of the level of dietary energy, body weight gain and carcass composition appeared to be closely correlated with energy intake of the pullets. Diets as low as 15% protein with and without methionine supplementation resulted in 16-wk body weights similar to those of animals fed diets containing 21% protein, suggesting that protein is not a critical nutrient influencing weight gain of pullets. Pullets fed ad libitum every other day from 12 to 16 wk of age were significantly lighter at 16 wk than pullets full fed a regular grower diet or the regular diet diluted with 20% oat hulls. Pullets must achieve a certain body weight and carcass composition in order to trigger the onset of production. Dietary energy, not protein, appears to be the critical nutrient involved.