Effect of varying period of early nutrient restriction on growth compensation and carcass characteristics of male broilers.

An experiment was conducted to determine growth and carcass characteristics of male broilers subjected to varying periods of early nutrient restriction. Nutrient restriction was achieved by feeding a starter diet in which the major ingredients were replaced with 50% oat hulls. Five treatments involved feeding this diluted diet for 6 d, either continuous or split into shorter periods in different ways, all starting at 6 d of age. On completion of the 6 d of nutrient restriction, all birds received undiluted starter diet, followed by grower and finisher diets to trial termination at 49 d. All birds fed the diluted diet exhibited reduced nutrient intake. Complete growth compensation by all birds that previously received the diluted diet was attained by 35 d, due largely to their superior (P < .05) feed efficiencies relative to the control birds during realimentation. Varying the period of nutrient restriction did not affect growth compensation. Birds that received the diluted diet for 6 continuous d tended to be leaner at 42 d compared with those that consumed the diluted diet for shorter periods. This latter effect may relate to variable ME intake. There was no statistical difference in other carcass characteristics measured at both 42 and 49 d of age.