Effect of ovariectomy and ad libitum feeding on body composition, thyroid status, ghrelin and leptin plasma concentrations in female dogs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy (i) and ad libitum feeding (ii) on energy intake, body weight (BW), body composition, thyroid status, leptin and ghrelin plasma concentrations. Four young adult female Beagle dogs were fed a maintenance diet for 6 weeks prior to ovariectomy, then 6 months after. Food allowance was adjusted in order to maintain optimal BW. Then, a diet slightly higher in energy concentration was fed ad libitum for 4 months. The maintenance diet was then fed ad libitum for one additional month. The maintenance of optimal BW after ovariectomy required a significant decrease in energy allowance. No increase in fat mass was observed. Ghrelin concentration remained unchanged. During the first month of ad libitum feeding, plasma ghrelin concentration and energy intake increased, then they decreased. Mean BW, plasma leptin, thyrotropin (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations significantly increased over the study. The BW increase was exclusively due to an increase in body fat. In conclusion, energy allowance should be strictly controlled in spayed female dogs. The results suggest that in dogs, thyroid hormones, leptin and ghrelin concentrations change in response to a positive energy balance in an attempt to limit weight gain. However, the significant weight gain shows that this goal was not achieved.     

The effects of feed restriction on physical activity, body weight, physiology, haematology and immunology in female mink

The aim of the present study was to investigate if adult mink females characterised as having a high or low residual feed intake (RFI) differed in their response to feed restriction with regard to activity, body weight loss and physiological parameters. For RFI-High, the activity was higher prior to the expected feeding time both in the cases of restrictive and ad libitum feeding indicating a changed RFI-High feeding motivation and a higher risk of developing stereotypic activity. The body weight gain and the feed consumption were higher for RFI-High than for RFI-Low when feeding ad libitum indicating that RFI-High has a higher growth potential and/or a higher energy requirement than RFI-Low. Signs of immunosuppression were shown in connection with restrictive feeding compared to ad libitum feeding, and RFI-High females seemed to be more susceptible to immunosuppression than RFI-Low females. Based on the present results, mink characterised as RFI-Low would be preferable as breeders because they involve lower feed costs and seem to be less susceptible to immunosuppression. They also seem to have less risk of developing stereotypic activity, which is beneficial for the welfare.     

Effects of dietary fat and energy on body weight and composition after gonadectomy in cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of dietary fat and energy density on body weight gain, body composition, and total energy expenditure (TEE) in neutered and sexually intact cats. ANIMALS: 12 male and 12 female cats PROCEDURE: Male cats were castrated (castrated male [CM]) or underwent no surgical procedure (sexually intact male [IM]). Female cats underwent ovariectomy (spayed female [SF]) or laparotomy and ligation of both uterine tubes without ovary removal (sexually intact female [IF]). Cats were fed either the low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 26 weeks, with the final allocation consisting of 8 groups: IF-LF IF-HE SF-LF, SF-HF IM-LF, IM-HF, CM-LF, and CM-HF. Mean food intake for each group was recorded daily, and body weight was monitored weekly throughout the study. Body composition and TEE were measured before surgery in week 0 and at the end of the study (week 26) by isotope dilution (double-labelled water). RESULTS: N eutered cats gained significantly more body fat and body weight (53.80+/-5.79%) than sexually intact cats (27.11+/-5.79%) during the study. Body weight gain of neutered cats fed the HF diet was greater than those fed the LF diet. Following correction for body composition, TEE was similar in all groups and no pattern towards increased food intake was evident. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Weight gain in neutered cats was decreased by feeding an LF, low energy-dense diet. To prevent weight gain in cats after neutering, a suitable LF diet should be fed in carefully controlled meals rather than ad libitum.     

Effects of low dietary protein and different allocations of food during rearing and restricted feeding after peak rate of lay on egg production,fertility and hatchability in female broiler breeders

1. A 3x2x2 factorial experiment was conducted with boiler breeder females to determine the effects of body weight gain (three levels) and conventional or lower crude protein concentrations in the rations during rearing, and restricted or ad libitum feeding after the peak rate of lay on egg production, fertility, hatchability, mortality and food consumption. 2. Compared with ad libitum feeding, conventional food restriction resulted in a decrease in average daily food consumption of 0.6 during rearing, 0.2 during early lay and an increase of 0.4 after the peak rate of egg production. Mortality was decreased by more than half. 3. Restricted birds had higher total and settable egg production, fewer defective or damaged eggshells and higher fertility and hatchability than those fed ad libitum. The modified (more generous) rearing programme resulted in lower rates of egg production and higher rates of mortality compared with the conventional food restriction programme. 4. Low-protein rearing rations were associated with higher rates of food intake, higher mortalities and lower rates of egg production than the conventional protein rations. There were no differences in the fertility or hatchability of eggs between birds fed on the two concentrations of dietary crude protein. 5. Ad libitum feeding post-peak was associated with higher rates of mortality to 60 weeks of age. Post-peak feeding had little effect on the rate of lay or egg weight in conventionally restricted birds fed high protein rations or in birds fed ad libitum. Restricted feeding post-peak decreased the rate of lay and egg weight in birds on the modified restriction programme and in conventionally restricted birds fed on the low protein rations. There was no effect of post-peak feeding on fertility or hatchability of eggs. 6. The total numbers of saleable chicks per kg food consumed were 1.83, 1.72 and 0.52 for conventional, modified and ad libitum feeding during rearing; 1.56 and 1.15 for restricted and ad libitum feeding post-peak: there were no differences associated with protein concentrations of rations fed during rearing.     

Effects of controlling body weight on the semen production of large white turkey males

1. The consequences of limiting body weight gain during rearing on subsequent semen production and quality of Large White turkey males were assessed in a factorial experiment comparing ad libitum or restricted feeding in two periods (6 to 18 and 19 to 54 weeks of age). 2. The proportion of males giving semen, semen yields and concentrations of spermatozoa, and the incidence of unstable hock joints, were lower in males severely restricted from 6 to 18 weeks of age. 3. The best performance was from males that were reared on ad libitum feeding and fed 0.85 of ad libitum food consumption from 19 to 54 weeks of age.     

早期数量限饲对肉仔鸡生长性能和胴体特性的影响

试验研究了早期数量限饲对肉仔鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响。200只8日龄艾维茵肉仔鸡被随机分成4组,每组五个重复,每重复10只鸡。对照组基础饲粮根据NRC营养水平配制,试验组肉仔鸡从8日龄开始喂料量分别为对照组的90%、80%和70%,限饲1周后各组恢复自由采食。试验结果表明:在第2周,限饲各组肉仔鸡的体重和日增重分别显著低于对照组(P<0.05);在第3周,限饲90%组完成补偿生长,体重与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05);在第4周,限饲80%和70%组完成补偿生长,体重与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05);5、6、7周及2～7周各组在体重、日增重、日采食量和饲料转化率等方面都无显著差异(P>0.05)。早期数量限饲对肉仔鸡胴体特性没有显著影响(P>0.05)。     

Effects of feeding regimens on bodyweight, composition and condition score in cats following ovariohysterectomy

The effects of ovariohysterectomy on bodyweight, composition and condition score were evaluated in 49 cats that were fed ad libitum and 11 cats that had their food allowances controlled with the aim of maintaining a stable bodyweight. In cats fed ad libitum, bodyweight increased by an average of 31 per cent in the 12 months following ovariohysterectomy compared with 3.1 per cent over the 12 months before surgery, and this was largely due to increased body fat content. There was no difference in weight gain between cats fed dry or canned foods, but weight gain was inversely related to age and bodyweight at the time of neutering. Mean bodyweight increased by 7.5 per cent in the controlled feeding group, compared with 3.6 per cent over the 12 months before surgery, and individual bodyweights were maintained to within 10 per cent of pre-neutering values in nine cats. The other two cats experienced substantial weight gain (+20 per cent and +36 per cent), despite being fed only 40 kcal/kg/day. There were no significant changes in body composition of cats with controlled dietary allowances and their condition scores were significantly lower than those of cats fed ad libitum. The results confirm a link between ovariohysterectomy and the development of obesity in cats with free access to food, and indicate that substantial reductions in energy intake are required to prevent weight gain in such cats.     

Investigations of energy metabolism in weanling barrows: the interaction of dietary energy concentration and daily feed (energy) intake

Much of our understanding of energy metabolism in the pig has been derived from studies in which the energy supply was controlled through regulated feed intake. In commercial situations, where ad libitum feeding is practiced, dietary energy concentration, but not daily feed intake, is under producer control. This study evaluated the interactive effects of dietary energy concentration and feeding level (FL) on growth, body composition, and nutrient deposition rates. Individually penned PIC barrows, with an initial BW of 9.5 +/- 1.0 kg, were allotted to 1 of 9 treatments in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement plus an initial slaughter group (n = 6) that was slaughtered at the beginning of the trial. Three NE concentrations (low, 2.15; medium, 2.26; and high, 2.37 Mcal of NE/kg) and 3 feeding levels (FL: 100, 80, or 70% of ad libitum access to feed) were investigated. Daily feed allowance for the restricted-fed pigs was adjusted twice per week on a BW basis until completion of the experiment at 25 +/- 1 kg of BW. Average daily gain, ADFI, and G:F were unaffected by NE (mean = 572 g, 781 g, and 0.732 g/g, respectively). Average daily gain and ADFI, but not G:F, increased (P < 0.05) with FL. Empty body lipid concentration increased with dietary NE concentration and with FL; a significant (P < 0.01) interaction revealed that empty body lipid concentration increased most rapidly as ADFI increased on the highest energy diet. Empty body lipid concentration was greatest in pigs with ad libitum access to the high-NE diet. Empty body protein concentration decreased with increasing NE (P < 0.05) but was not affected by FL. Empty body protein deposition (PD) increased with increasing FL (P < 0.001), but not with NE. Empty body lipid deposition (LD) and the LD:PD ratio increased (P < 0.01) in pigs with ad libitum access to the high-NE diet. In conclusion, NE did not interact with FL on growth, body protein concentration, or PD, suggesting that the conclusions regarding energy utilization obtained from experiments using restricted feed intake may not easily be applied to pigs fed under ad libitum conditions. The interactive effects of NE and FL on body lipid concentration, LD, and the LD:PD ratio indicate that changes in dietary energy concentration alter the composition of gain without necessarily changing overall BW gain. Consequently, the composition of gain is an important outcome in studies on energy utilization.     

脂肪水平对早期断奶犊牛生长性能及血清生化指标的影响

早期断奶犊牛饲喂不同脂肪含量代乳品,研究脂肪水平对犊牛生长性能、血清生化指标及饲料进食量的影响,为犊牛生长规律和脂肪需要提供科学依据,为实际生产中犊牛早期断奶和培育提供技术指导。试验选取12头新生荷斯坦公犊牛,分为EE9、EE13、EE17 3组,每组４头,分别饲喂蛋白质水平相同、脂肪含量为9%、13%及17%的3种代乳品。每日记录犊牛开食料的采食情况,并于犊牛10、20、30、40、50、60日龄清晨空腹测定犊牛体重及体尺指标,同时采集犊牛的血液样本进行分析。研究结果表明,3组犊牛哺乳期的饲料日进食量分别为706.9、666.9、569.3 g;10~60日龄的平均日增重分别为498、544、488 g,EE13组犊牛日增重高于EE9、EE17组的犊牛;犊牛60日龄时,EE13组犊牛的体高、体斜长及管围均高于其它2组。血清尿素氮、血糖、甘油三酯的水平不受代乳品脂肪含量的影响,但日龄对哺乳期犊牛甘油三酯含量的影响差异显著(P<0.05)。随日龄的增加,犊牛的生长速度和饲料的进食量逐渐增加,低脂肪的代乳品(EE9)不能满足犊牛的能量需要,高脂肪的代乳品（EE17）抑制了犊牛对开食料的采食量,饲喂脂肪含量13％的代乳品（EE13）对犊牛生长发育优于其它2组。脂肪含量对犊牛血清生化指标的影响不显著。     

Review: Restricted and Programmed Feeding of Beef Cattle—Definitions,Application, and Research Results

Restricted and programmed feeding are two commonly used approaches to manage feed intake by cattle. Restricted feeding, which is most often applied to starting cattle on feed and to finishing cattle, takes various forms but generally includes any method of feed intake management with which intake is restricted relative to actual or anticipated ad libitum intake. Conversely, programmed feeding, which is most frequently used in growing programs, is a method in which net energy equations are used to calculate the quantities of feed required to meet the needs for maintenance and a specific rate of gain. Both restricted and programmed feeding have been shown to improve feed efficiency, perhaps in part because recent research data suggest that body energy gain by cattle increases in a diminishing manner with increasing energy intake. Nonetheless, commercial application of restricted and(or) programmed feeding is limited by concerns related to application in large vs small pens and potential negative effects of restriction and(or) programming on daily gain and carcass quality grade. Research findings suggest consistent improvements in feed efficiency, generally decreased daily gain, and generally lower carcass quality grade when intake is restricted from 5 to 15% relative to pair-fed ad libitum controls in finishing cattle. Application of restricted and(or) programmed feeding during growing periods followed by ad libitum feeding, however, seems to have little effect on subsequent performance and carcass quality grade. Although restricted feeding offers the advantages of simplified feed bunk management, advanced knowledge of feed milling needs, and potential environmental benefits, additional research and field-level fine tuning will be needed before widespread commercial application is likely.     

Metabolic and behavioral adaptation of light-bodied chicks to meal feeding.

1. Two-week-old male chicks of a light-bodied strain were fed one (1M) or two (2M) 2-h meals per day. An additional group was pair-fed (P1M) the amount consumed by the 1M group on the previous day. 2. After 21 days, final body weight of the 1M and 2M chicks attained 65% and 80%, respectively, of that of the control group fed ad libitum. The weight gain of the P1M chicks was equal to that of the 1M chicks. 3. Food consumption of chicks adapted to meals was not even throughout the feeding period. On day 16 of the experiment, the 1M birds consumed 65% of the meal during the first 30 min. P1M chicks behaved similarly to the 1M ones. The intake of the 2M chicks during each meal was exactly half of their daily consumption, despite the uneven time period between meals. 4. The time during which food remained in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was longer under the meal feeding regimes than in the ad libitum-fed groups. 5. Although neither body composition nor metabolisable energy was affected by meal regime, food utilisation was poorer in the 1M and P1M than in the ad libitum and 2M-fed chicks.     

Effects of feeding level on efficiency of high- and low-residual feed intake beef steers

Comparing heat production after ad libitum (ADLIB) and restricted (RESTRICT) feeding periods may offer insight into how residual feed intake (RFI) groups change their energy requirements based on previous feeding levels. In this study, the authors sought to explain the efficiency changes of high- and low-RFI steers after feed restriction. To determine RFI classification, 56 Angus-cross steers with initial body weight (BW) of 350 ± 28.7 kg were individually housed, offered ad libitum access to a total mixed ration, and daily intakes were recorded for 56 d. RFI was defined as the residual of the regression of dry matter intake on mid-test BW^0.75 and average daily gain. High- and low-RFI groups were defined as >0.5 SD above or below the mean of zero, respectively. Fourteen steers from each high and low groups (n = 28) were selected for the subsequent 56-d RESTRICT period. During the RESTRICT period, intake was restricted to 75% of previous ad libitum intake on a BW^0.75 basis, and all other conditions remained constant. After the RESTRICT period, both RFI groups had decreased maintenance energy requirements. However, the low-RFI group decreased maintenance energy requirements by 32% on a BW^0.75 basis, more (P < 0.05) than the high-RFI group decreased maintenance requirements (18%). Thus, the low-RFI steers remained more efficient after a period of feed restriction. We conclude that feed restriction decreases maintenance energy requirement in both high- and low-RFI groups that are restricted to the same degree.     

Influence of level of feeding and nutrient content of the concentrate on growth and development of yearling horses

Three experiments using 63 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were conducted to evaluate the influence of level of feeding, and protein and calculated energy content of pelleted concentrates on growth and bone development. Animals were housed in drylot paddocks and individually fed concentrates twice daily. Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dyctylon) hay was group-fed. Yearlings offered a corn-based concentrate (3.56 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/kg) consumed levels of dry matter similar to yearlings fed a mixed-grain concentrate (3.32 Mcal DE/kg but consumed slightly more digestible energy. No differences in growth or bone development were detected. Yearlings fed restricted levels of concentrate that provided approximate National Research Council (NRC) recommendations for protein and DE had lower weight and girth gains (P less than .05) than those provided ad libitum concentrate intake during two 1.5-h daily feeding periods. Restricting concentrate intake had no effect on skeletal growth (P less than .05) but resulted in numerically lower values for bone radiographic density. Protein addition to a diet restricted to approximate NRC energy intake recommendations had no effect on weight gain, body measurements or bone mineral deposition (P greater than .05) and growth and development was less than that resulting from higher intakes of a lower protein concentrate.     

Influence of Energy and Protein Content of the Concentrate and Restricting Concentrate Intake on Growth and Development of Weanling Horses

Forty-four Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse weanlings were used in three experiments to evaluate the effects of energy content, protein content, and feeding levels of the concentrate on growth and development when fed with Coastal bermudagrass hay. The animals were confined to drylot paddocks and fed the assigned concentrate in individual feeding stalls. The hay was group-fed in the paddocks. In the first experiment, the concentrate was fed at 1.5 kg/100 kg BW daily or ad libitum for two 1.5-h feeding periods daily. The ad libitum-fed weanlings had greater withers height gain (P<0.01), and hip height gain (P<0.05) than the limit-fed weanlings. Bone mineral gains were numerically greater for the ad libitum-fed weanlings (P>0.10). None of the other body measurements were different (P>0.05). In Exp. 2, weanlings were fed a basal concentrate ad libitum for two1.5-h feeding periods daily or a fat-added concentrate at equal amounts to the hay intake. Nutrients were balanced to meet NRC recommendations. The fat-added concentrate resulted in numerically greater withers height (P>0.10), heart girth (P>0.10), body length (P>0.10), hip height (P>0.10), and bone mineral (P>0.10) gains. Weight gain and feed efficiency favored the basal diet. In Exp. 3, weanlings were fed concentrates providing either 14 or 18% CP as described previously. The BW gains favored the high protein diets for three of the first four periods (P<0.05), and some numerical advantage persisted to the end of the trial (P>0.10). None of the other growth measurements were different for the two diets. Calculations on nutrient intake and BW gains of the animals on the three experiments revealed that lysine intake appears to be a greater factor than energy or protein in influencing BW gain of weanlings.     

饲喂水平对冬毛生长期雄性北极狐生产性能、器官发育及机体能量沉积的影响

旨在研究不同饲喂水平对冬毛生长期雄性北极狐生产性能、器官发育及机体能量沉积的影响。本试验选取46只161日龄,平均体重为（7 285±5.77）g健康的雄性北极狐,其中6只北极狐作为试验初屠宰试验对照,另外40只北极狐随机分成4组（每组10个重复,每个重复1只）,分别按照自由采食组（AL,I组）、自由采食量的80%组（IR80,II组）、自由采食量的60%组（IR60,III组）和自由采食量的40%组（IR40,IV组）4个水平饲喂,预饲期7 d,试验期67 d,通过饲养试验、屠宰试验并结合化学分析方法来评定生长性能、毛皮品质、器官发育及机体能量沉积的各项指标。结果表明：1）随饲喂水平降低,平均干物质采食量（ADFI）呈极显著降低（P<0.01）,II组平均日增重（ADG）极显著高于IV组（P<0.01）,显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与I组差异不显著（P>0.05）;饲喂水平对北极狐末重和料重比（F/G）无显著影响（P>0.05）,但II组末重略高于其他组,F/G略低于其他组。2）饲喂水平极显著影响了北极狐鲜皮长（P<0.01）,I组极显著高于III和IV组,与II组无显著差异（P>0.05）;随饲喂水平降低,体长、干皮长、针毛长和绒毛长均呈降低趋势,但各组间均无显著性差异（P>0.05）。3）饲喂水平显著影响了北极狐心脏重和心脏指数（P<0.05或P<0.01）,II组心脏重显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与I组和IV组差异不显著（P>0.05）,IV组心脏指数极显著高于I组（P<0.01）,显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与II组差异不显著（P>0.05）,而饲喂水平对肝、肾、肺和脾重及其脏器指数均无显著影响（P>0.05）。4）随饲喂水平降低,毛皮增重、毛皮脂肪沉积及其能量沉积、毛皮沉积总能量、胴体脂肪沉积及其能量沉积、胴体蛋白沉积及其能量沉积和胴体沉积总能量均呈降低趋势,但饲喂水平对毛皮、胴体能量沉积各项指标均无显著性影响（P>0.05）。采用适当限饲（IR80）不影响冬毛生长期北极狐机体器官的正常发育,能够保证其体重增长及毛皮品质,提高了饲料转化效率,且还降低了机体能量沉积过度带来的肥胖风险。     

Effects of chronic obesity and weight loss on plasma ghrelin and leptin concentrations in dogs

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in dogs, the effects of obesity and weight loss on plasma total ghrelin and leptin concentrations. Twenty-four Beagle dogs, 12 control lean and 12 obese dogs of both genders and aged between 1 and 9 years, were used for the experiments. Mean body weight was 12.7+/-0.7 kg for the lean group and 21.9+/-0.8 kg for the obese group. The trial was divided into three phases. During phase 1, all 24 Beagle dogs were fed a maintenance diet. During phase 2, the obese dogs were submitted to a weight loss protocol with a high protein-low energy diet. The weight loss protocol ended once dogs reached optimal body weight. During phase 3, the dogs that were submitted to the weight loss protocol were maintained at their optimal body weight for 6 months. Plasma total ghrelin, leptin, insulin and glucose concentrations were measured to evaluate the effects of obesity and weight loss on these parameters in dogs. Body weight, body condition score, thoracic and pelvic perimeters, and ingested food amounts were also recorded during the study. Obese dogs demonstrated a significant decrease in plasma ghrelin and a significant increase in plasma leptin and insulin concentrations when compared with control dogs. During weight loss, significant increases in plasma total ghrelin and glucose and significant decreases in plasma leptin and insulin were observed. The increase in plasma ghrelin concentrations seemed to be transient. Body weight and the morphometric parameters correlated positively with leptin concentrations and negatively with total ghrelin concentrations. These results suggest that ghrelin and leptin could play a role in dogs in the adaptation to a positive or negative energy balance, as observed in humans.     

Corticosterone administration and high-energy feed results in enhanced fat accumulation and insulin resistance in broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of exogenous corticosterone administration (30 mg/kg diet) and dietary energy level on feed or energy intake and fat deposition in broiler chickens of 1 and 4 weeks of age. 2. Corticosterone treatment significantly suppressed body weight (BW) gain and reduced feed and caloric efficiencies. The retarded growth may conceal the stimulatory effect of corticosterone on feed consumption or metabolisable energy (ME) intake. A high-energy diet may increase energy intake and partially alleviate the suppressing effect of corticosterone on growth of broilers. 3. Corticosterone administration promoted the conservation of energy stores as fat at both abdominal and subcutaneous sites and this process occurred regardless of dietary energy level in ad libitum feeding status. A high-energy diet increased fat accumulation and showed no significant interaction with corticosterone treatment. 4. The suppressed development of breast and thigh muscles by corticosterone treatment was observed only in 1-week-old chickens fed on the low-energy diet. In contrast, the yield of breast muscle but not thigh muscle was significantly decreased by corticosterone in 4-week-old chickens, suggesting that the tissue specificity to corticosterone challenge is age dependent. 5. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and very low density lipoprotein were increased by corticosterone treatment regardless of diet treatment. A high-energy diet increased plasma levels of NEFA and resulted in hyperinsulinism in 4-week-old chickens but not in 1-week-old chickens. 6. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities in adipose tissues may have been up-regulated by corticosterone treatment and showed tissue specificity. The increased LPL activities at ad libitum feeding status were not necessarily linked with the increased fat accumulation in corticosterone challenged chickens. 7. Corticosterone resulted in augmented energy consumption and altered energy redistribution toward lipid deposition. The induced insulin resistance and enhanced hepatic de novo lipogenesis by corticosterone are likely to be responsible for the increased fat deposition.     

Effects of food restriction during the finishing period on the performance of broiler chickens

1. Three hundred 4-week-old commercial Hibrow broiler chicks were fed ad libitum , 85% and 70% of ad libitum or ad libitum for 5 d per week with 3rd and 5th days of food withdrawal for 28 d to examine the effects of food restriction on liveweight, growth rate, food conversion efficiency, dressing percentage, abdominal fat and mortality. 2. Quantitative food reduction to 85% and 70% of ad libitum , and reduction in feeding time by 2 d/week significantly reduced final body weight and rate of growth. 3. Food restriction (to 70% ad libitum ) resulted in lower abdominal fat than ad libitum feeding, 15% food restriction or reduction in feeding time by 2 d/week. 4. There were no significant differences between the effects of 15% food restriction and 2-d reduction in feeding time per week on final body weight, growth rate and abdominal fat. 5. Reduction in feeding time by 2 d/week resulted in the same food efficiency as ad libitum feeding and quantitative food restriction by 15% and a significantly better food efficiency than 30% quantitative food reduction. 6. Reducing feeding time by 2 d/week seemed to have less severe effects on the birds than quantitatively reducing food supply by 30%.     

Effect of breeding strategy and feeding system on the within-herd variation of lean meat percents in Danish slaughter pigs

In several countries slaughter pigs are paid for individually, according to slaughter weight and lean meat percent (LMP). Production of uniform batches of pigs within the optimal weight and LMP limits will obtain the best price. Therefore, all pigs should have a similar growth rate (average daily gain, ADG) and reach an appropriate slaughter weight within the same time period. LMP may serve as a proxy for ADG since pigs with low LMP have significantly higher ADG than pigs with high LMP and vice versa. Both breeding strategy and feeding system may influence the range of variation among pigs. The aim of this study was to test the two following hypotheses: (1) Herds purchasing breeding gilts have a higher mean value and a lower variation (standard deviation) in LMP than herds producing their own breeding gilts and (2) Herds using restricted feeding of finishers have a higher mean value and a lower variation (standard deviation) in LMP than herds with ad libitum feeding of finishers. The study included 72 herds and a total of 345,132 pigs slaughtered during one year. Among the 72 herds, 40 were home-breeders and 32 purchased breeding gilts from a breeding company. Nineteen herds used restricted feeding, of which 8 (42%) were home-breeders. Fifty-three herds used ad libitum feeding, of which 32 (60%) were home-breeders. Breeding strategy had a significant effect on SDLMP (p=0.003), where purchase of breeding gilts resulted in a significantly lower standard deviation of the monthly LMP compared to home-bred gilts (a difference in median SDLMP of 0.2 percentage points or 8% difference between groups). Feeding system had a significant effect on the meanLMP (p<0.001), with a significantly higher meanLMP in herds using restrictive feeding compared to ad libitum feeding (60.7% versus 60.0%). Restrictive feeding also resulted in a significantly lower SDLMP (p<0.001) compared to ad libitum feeding (2.2% versus 2.5% or a 12% difference between groups).     

Response of Ross 308 and Hubbard broiler chickens to feed removal for different durations during the day

The effects of feed removal for 6, 8, or 10 h during the day from 8 to 28 days of age followed by ad libitum feeding to market age on the growth performance of two strains of broiler chickens, Ross 308 and Hubbard, were studied over 7 weeks. Ross 308 was superior to Hubbard in weight gain and final body weight but consumed more feed and deposited more abdominal fat. Overall, daily feed removal reduced feed intake and improved feed efficiency in all feed-restricted birds, and the longer the period of feed removal the better the efficiency of utilization, but it had no significant effect on weight gain and market weight. It is suggested that for broiler production in the tropics, Ross 308 could be used on a 10-h daily feed removal program from 8 to 28 days of age.