Diluted Starter Diet, Growth Performance, and Digestive Tract Development in Fast- and Slow-Growing Broilers

Broilers are challenged by metabolical, immunological, and skeletal disorders during a short lifespan. Faster-growing stocks may be frequently feed restricted via various management practices including dietary dilution. Information on the early posthatch nutrition of chicks, however, is limited. Hypothetically, one way to stimulate digestive tract development while slowing down body growth is to dilute the starter diet. In this experiment, wheat bran, usually well tolerated by chickens, was used in the formulation of a low energy and high fiber starter regimen until 11 days after hatch. Evaluated was its effect on food intake, digestive tract, and body development to 41 days of age in males of two stocks differing greatly in growth. Growth and tissue development were evaluated between 11 and 41 days of age when all chickens received the same concentrated diet. Gut development was nearly maintained even under very low nutritional status, but the initial delayed growth of the body could not be compensated for afterward in either stock. These results demonstrate that nutritional status during early life has long lasting effects on both fast- and slow-growing broilers.