This experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance, control of the of metabolic diseases incidence, and carcass yield of male broiler chickens allotted to a feed restriction from 8-14 days of age. The nutrient restriction was achieved by feeding a starter diet (21,5% CP and 3050 ME, kcal/kg) with 25 or 50% soybean hulls. The treatment of restriction involved the feeding of these diets either on continuously or intercalated form (with the non-diluted starter diet). After the restriction period, the birds returned to the regular starter diet up to 21 days of age. In the following period, from 22 to 35 days of age, the birds were fed a growing diet (21% CP - 3200 ME, kcal/kg) and from 36 to 42 days, a finishing diet (19% CP - 3200 ME, kcal/kg). After they have been submitted to the feed restriction, the birds showed lower body weights as compared to the control treatment for all ages. The diet dilution did not influence the incidence of ascites or sudden death syndromes. There were no differences on carcass breast or thigh yield. Abdominal fat content presented no consistent differences among treatment. The treatments with diet dilution of 50% of soybean hulls resulted on inferior gross margin. The nutritional strategy to reduce the losses by metabolic diseases and the abdominal carcass fat content was accomplished by losses on the performance of the birds.
carcass composition; performance; diet; dilution; broilers; nutrient; restriction; ascites syndrome; sudden death syndrome
