The effect of feeding time on performance characteristics in relation to hatching egg production and fertile egg ratio

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of feeding time practices used in a commercial breeder company either early in the morning (at 8:00 Control) or in the afternoon (14:00 Late) on production performance of broiler breeders. For this purpose, whole production records (24-62 wk) of three Ross 308 breeder stocks practicing late feeding and three Ross 308 stocks practicing control feeding were analyzed. Results showed that there was a positive effect of Late feeding as compared to Control feeding as indicated by significantly higher (P≤0.05) hen housed egg production rate (%), hatching egg, and fertile egg ratios. Hen day egg production rate tended to be higher in Late feeding group as compared with Control. However differences was not significant between groups (P=0.078). The percentage of floor eggs in total egg production and mortality were significantly lower in Late feeding group than Control (P≤0.05). Significant age by feeding time interaction for hatching egg and floor egg percentage were due to significantly higher hatching egg production rates but lower floor eggs in Late feeding group as compared with Control, especially, at early ages (till 35 wk). Late feeding positively affected fertile egg ratio (P≤0.05) but it didn't affect egg weight and uniformity of breeder hens. It may be concluded that late feeding time (14:00h) might be a promising tool for improving hatching egg production by decreasing floor egg ratio as compared with control (8:00). This advantage of late feeding time may be because feeding activity was not coincided with peak nesting activity in the morning hours.