Effects of maternal management and nutrition on broiler chicken carcass uniformity

• Author / Creator

  Holm, Deborah

• This project researched the effects of pullet-phase feed restriction methodology or management and hen-phase diet fortification on female broiler breeder BW and carcass trait uniformity as well as on performance of the broiler offspring.

  Feed treatments had a significant effect on female BW and carcass trait uniformity at 22 wk of age, with sorting and scatter treatments having the highest uniformity estimates, compared to limited daily, skip-a-day and fibre-diluted programs. Feed and premix treatments did not affect traits after 22 wk of age as individual caging at 22 wk of age unified female BW uniformity across all treatments. Feed treatments did not affect the uniformity of age at sexual maturity, first egg characteristics or production parameters. Premix treatment resulted in decreased shell uniformity and increased uniformity of one of the production parameters, total egg mass. Feed treatments may have a greater effect on female broiler breeder efficiency than previously suggested.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Feed management
  • Broiler breeder
  • Diet fortification
  • Uniformity

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3Q01R

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.