The effect of increased protein intake during the starter and prebreeder periods on reproductive performance of ultra high yield Cobb 700 broiler breeder hens

Authors: COON, CRAIG - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; DE BEER, MARC - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; MANANGI, MEGHARAJA - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; LU, JIANWEI - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; REYES, MARTHA - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; BRAMWELL, KEITH - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; SUN, JIN MEI - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; SAKOMURA, NILVA - UNESP; Rosebrough, Robert; Richards, Mark; McMurtry, John

Submitted to: The Poultry Federation Annual Poultry Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2006
Publication Date: 12/1/2006
Citation: Coon, C., de Beer, M., Manangi, M., Lu, J., Reyes, M., Bramwell, K., Sun, J.M., Sakomura, N., Rosebrough, R., Richards, M., McMurtry, J. 2006. The effect of increased protein intake during the starter and prebreeder periods on reproductive performance of ultra high yield Cobb 700 broiler breeder hens. Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference. pp 1-24.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The most recent information on broiler breeder nutrition is presented in these symposium proceedings. Previous studies have suggested that increased protein intake during prebreeder period improves reproductive performance. A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary crude protein on performance. The results showed that while excess protein does not appear to be beneficial, it was shown that lower than recommended protein intake has a detrimental effect on performance. Controlling broiler breeder body weight is essential to achieving optimal production of hatching eggs. To avoid excessive body weight feed restriction programs have been implemented, however, this leads to the development of an overactive lipogenic system. The results of this trial showed that everyday fed breeders produced more eggs that restrict-fed breeders, and that carnitine supplementation has a beneficial effect on egg production and size.