Influence of nutritional modification on skeletal size of Leghorn and broiler breeder pullets.

Two trials were undertaken to study the effect of nutrient intake on skeletal size in growing pullets. Leghorn chicks at 28 days were smaller in weight and shank and keel length when fed 16% as compared to 22% crude protein. Increasing the energy or mineral-vitamin concentration of the diet had no effect on skeletal parameters. Increased skeletal size of pullets in response to increased diet protein was associated with reduced (P less than .01) tibial ash content. In a subsequent trial, broiler breeder pullets were fed, ad libitum, starter diets (0 to 21 days) containing graded levels of protein from 20 to 13%. Reducing protein level had a consistent negative effect on body weight, shank length, and keel length at 21 days. When birds were subsequently fed restricted quantities of a common grower diet, no differences in body weight and skeletal parameters were evident at maturity. It is concluded that although early body weight and skeletal size can be markedly influenced by diet protein level, such effects are subsequently nullified by conventional restricted feeding programs.