Choice feeding of the male and female broiler

1. Male and female broilers from 21 d of age were fed on either a complete diet or given a choice of whole wheat and one of two higher‐protein foods formulated by omitting some or all of the cereal from the complete diet.

2. For males receiving the choice treatments, on average 44.7 and 73.1 % by weight, respectively of the food consumed from 21 d consisted of whole wheat. The corresponding figures for the females were 49.9 and 77.3% respectively.

3. Growth rate from 21 d was significantly lower for the males which received wheat and the cereal‐free higher‐protein food and for the females on either choice treatment. Differences in the treatment means, however, were small.