September 15, 2016

USPOULTRY requesting research pre-proposals on alternatives to restricted feeding programmes for broiler breeders

The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative is requesting pre-proposals on alternatives to current restricted feeding programmes for broiler breeders.

The growth of broiler breeders is moderated to allow birds to lay eggs and breed properly. During the rearing of immature broiler breeders this has been traditionally accomplished by withholding feed on certain days, with some animal welfare advocates suggesting that current restricted feeding programmes compromise the welfare of young broiler breeder males and females.

The areas of focus for the research will include feeding programmes in immature broiler breeders that are alternatives to current restricted feeding programmes, objective measures to evaluate the impact on immature broiler breeder welfare by feeding programmes during rearing, comparison of objectives measures of welfare in immature broiler breeders reared on different feeding programmes, and comparison of performance parameters of broiler breeders reared on different feeding programmes.

The deadline for pre-proposal submission is November 1. For more information, go to http://www.uspoultry.org/research/