Restricted Feeding of Growing Pullets 



By R. C. Ringrose* 



Introduction 



POULTRYMEN are still seeking an answer to the question, "Which is 

 the best feeding system for my flock?" Those close to the problem 

 realize that there is no "best" method for poultrymen as a group. Labor 

 and management problems peculiar to a farm often dictate the choice of 

 a feeding system. 



During the past few years the terms restricted or controlled feeding 

 have been employed to describe a method of feeding pullets grown for 

 flock replacement. The main objective of such a feeding program is to 

 delay sexual maturity and thereby increase initial egg size, which would 

 result finally in the production of a larger number of hatching eggs. Addi- 

 tional advantages claimed are lower cost of rearing a pullet, reduction of 

 adult mortality, and increased egg production. 



As a result of breeding work aimed at developing strains of chickens 

 which will grow rapidly to broiler age, such strains when reared for 

 replacement pullets mature early and lay eggs of small initial size. It was 

 felt by some poultrymen that if sexual maturity could be delayed, egg 

 size not only would be increased, but more hatching eggs would be produced. 

 Since the program of feeding to delay sexual maturity was a field de- 

 velopment without comparative data, it was decided to obtain experimental 

 data as an aid in evaluation and development of a system of feeding to de- 

 lay sexual maturity. 



Review of Literature 



At the time this study was initiated, literature bearing on the subject was 

 nonexistent. During the development of the research, a few reports appeared. 

 Milby and Sherwood (1) reported a comparison of full feeding versus 

 feeding limited to a definite number of hours daily. New Hampshire and 

 White Plymouth Rock stock was reared in confinement. Growth was re- 

 tarded and sexual maturity delayed about two weeks in both breeds by 

 the restricted feeding program. The amount of feed required to rear a 

 pullet to point of lay was virtually the same on both programs for the 

 White Rocks and 1.8 pounds more for the New Hampshires on the re- 

 stricted program. For the laying period there was little difference in egg 

 production, egg weight, body weight, or mortality. 



Sunde, Cravens, Bird, and Halpin (2) reared White Leghorn pullets by 



* Dr. Ringrose is Poultry Nutritionist in the New Hampshire Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. 



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