Controlled feeding of the layer. 1. Restriction of the lysine and total feed intake of the pullet in the starter, grower and developer phases

Abstract

The performance of pullets either fed lysine deficient diets or restricted in total feed intake in their starter (0-6 weeks), grower (6-1 2 weeks) or developer (1 2-20 weeks) phases or throughout their rearing period (0-20 weeks) were compared in separate experiments. Two levels of severity of each type of restriction were examined. No restriction treatment significantly improved the efficiency of conversion of feed to egg either measured on a chronological basis (0-68 weeks) or a physiological age basis (40 weeks from first egg). Both types of restriction applied in the starter phase tended to reduce egg size. Severe restriction throughout rearing greatly increased rearing period mortality.