A comparison of the feeding behaviour of young broiler and layer males

Abstract

Synopsis The feeding patterns of young broilers were compared with those of young layers to see if any differences might explain the faster growth rate of broilers. During 5 d of observation, the broilers ate almost twice as much as the layers and gained twice as much weight. However, the broilers also converted their food more efficiently and it was thought that this accounted for their faster growth rate. Since there was no difference in the ability of the two strains to digest their food, and since any differences in basal metabolic rate between the strains were likely to be small, it was suggested that the layer strain probably expended more energy on various behavioural responses. The broilers spent half as much time feeding as the layers but ate more meals which were larger and of shorter duration than those of the layers. Although both strains showed the same daily pattern of food consumption, their patterns of feeding activity differed markedly and in general feeding activity bore little relation to food intake.