Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:36:30.779Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Diet selection for protein by poultry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

J.M. Forbes  and
F. Shariatmadari
J.M. Forbes
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
F. Shariatmadari
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Get access

Abstract

If birds can learn to associate different sensory properties of foods with different metabolic feelings caused by different protein contents, then they should be able to choose a balance of foods which makes them feel most comfortable. Broiler chickens given a choice between two foods, one containing a higher concentration of protein than required and the other a lower concentration, eat amounts of the two which will give a diet that is close to optimum for growth in terms of overall protein content. When both foods have excessive or insufficient protein the birds eat predominantly from that closer to their requirements. As broilers grow they choose a progressively lower protein diet in line with their reducing protein:energy requirements. Strains with higher potential rates of lean deposition voluntarily consume a higher ratio of high-protein to low-protein food compared with low-growth strains, while strains selected for high fat deposition eat less protein per unit of energy than lean birds. Males select higher protein diets than females. Although increases in environmental temperature would be predicted to reduce energy requirements and thus increase the protein:energy ratio in selected diets, heat-stressed birds do not increase the protein content of their diet, probably because of the high heat increment of protein metabolism. Short periods of access to one food alone are followed by a preference for the opposite food when access to both is restored. When given appropriate training, laying hens can balance their diet for protein but not as well as broilers. There is evidence that growing chicks can differentiate high-lysine from low-lysine foods but do not entirely balance their diet for lysine. Methionine-deficient broilers eat more of a methionine supplemented food than normal birds, while laying hens eat some methionine-fortified food when given a choice against a low-methionine food, but not enough to support normal egg production. It is concluded that poultry can show a great degree of ‘nutritional wisdom’ as far as protein is concerned but that they need to be allowed to differentiate between foods with different nutrient profiles by sensory means, and a lack of training might account for some of the poor results obtained.

Keywords

Diet selectionprotein contentappetitegrowthegg laying
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , March 1994 , pp. 7 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, G.H. (1979) Control of protein and energy intake; role of plasma amino acids and brain neurotransmitters. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 57: 1043–1057CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balog, J.M. and Millar, R.J. (1989) Influence of the sense of taste on broiler chick feed consumption. Poultry Science 68: 1519–1526CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blake, A.G., Mather, F.B. and Gleaves, E.W. (1984) Dietary self-selection of laying hens inadequate to overcome the effects of high environmental temperatures. Poultry Science 63: 1346–1349CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boorman, K.N. (1979) Regulation of protein and amino acid intake. In: Food Intake Regulation in Poultry (Eds. Boorman, K.N. and Freeman, B.M.) Longman, Edinburgh, pp. 87–125Google Scholar
Brody, T.B., Cherry, J.A. and Siegal, P.B. (1984) Responses to dietary self selection and calories in liquid form by weight selected lines of chickens. Poultry Science 63: 1626–1633CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chah, C.C. and Moran, E.T. (1985) Egg characteristics of high performance hens at the end of lay when given cafeteria access to energy, protein and calcium. Poultry Science 64: 1696–1712CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Covasa, M. and Forbes, J.M. (1993) Cholecystokinin octapeptide suppresses feeding and conditions colour aversion in chickens. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 52: 30AGoogle Scholar
Cowan, P.J. and Michie, W. (1977) Choice feeding of the turkey: use of a high-protein concentrate fed with either whole wheat, barley, oats or maize. Zeitschrift fur Tierphysiologie, Tierernahrung und Futtermittelkunde 39: 124–130CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowan, P.J. and Michie, W. (1978) Environmental temperature and broiler performance: the use of diets containing increasing amount of protein. British Poultry Science 19: 601–605CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cumming, R.B., Mastika, I.M. and Wodzika–Tomaszewska, M. (1987) Practical aspects of choice feeding in poultry and its future role. In: Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia 1987 (Ed. Farrell, D.J.), University of New England, Armindale, NSW, pp. 283–289Google Scholar
Denbow, D.M. (1989) Peripheral and central control of food intake. Poultry Science 68: 938–947CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duncan, I.J.H. (1992) Measuring preferences and the strength of preferences. Poultry Science 71: 658–663CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elkin, R.G., Ndife, L.I. and Rogler, J.C. (1985) Dietary self selection and the regulation of protein and energy intake in chicks. Physiology and Behaviour 34: 743–749CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emmans, G.C. (1977) The nutrient intake of laying hens given a choice of diets in relation to their protein requirement. British Poultry Science 18: 227–236CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmans, G.C. (1991) Diet selection by animals: theory and experimental design. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 50: 59–64CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emmerson, D.E., Denbow, D.M., and Hulet, R.M. (1990) Protein and energy self–selection of turkey breeder hens: Reproductive performance. British Poultry Science 31: 283–292CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmerson, D.E., Denbow, D.M., Hulet, R.M., Potter, L.M. and Van Krey, P. (1991) Self–selection of dietary protein and energy by turkey breeder hens. British Poultry Science 32: 555–564CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Azahan Engku, E.A. and Forbes, J.M. (1989) Growth, food intake and energy balance of layer and broiler chickens offered glucose in the drinking water and the effect of dietary protein content. British Poultry Science 30: 907–917CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forbes, J.M. and Blundell, (1989) Central nervous control of voluntary food intake. In: The Volunary Food Intake of Pigs, (Eds Forbes, J.M., Varley, M.A. and Lawrence, T.L.J.), British Society of Animal Production, Edinburgh, pp. 7–26Google Scholar
Forbes, J. M. and Covasa, M. (1994) Application of diet selection by poultry with particular respect to whole cereals. Worlds' Poultry Science Journal (submitted)Google Scholar
Funk, E. M. (1932) Can the chick balance its ration? Poultry Science 11: 94–97CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gentle, M.J. (1971) Taste and its importance to the domestic chicken. British Poultry Science 12: 77–86CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gous, R.M. and Dupreez, J.J. (1975) The sequential feeding of growing chickens. British Journal of Nutrition 34: 113–117CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graham, W.R. (1932) Can we learn anything from a free-choice of feeds as expressed by chicks? Poultry Science 11: 365–366Google Scholar
Harper, A.E. (1974) Amino acids in nutrition. In: Processed Foods – Protein (Eds White, P.L. and Fletcher, D.C.), Publishing Science Group Inc., Acton, Massachusetts, pp 49–54Google Scholar
Holcombe, D.J., Roland, D.A. and Harms, R.H. (1976a) The ability of hens to regulate phosphorus intake when offered diets containing different levels of phosphorus. Poultry Science 55: 308–317CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holcomb, D.J., Roland, D.A. and Harms, R.H. (1976b) The ability of hens to regulate protein intake when offered a choice of diets containing different levels of protein. Poultry Science 55: 1731–1737CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holder, M.D. (1991) Conditioned preferences for the taste and odour components of flavours: blocking but not overshadowing. Appetite 17: 29–45CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, B.O. (1979) Appetites for specific nutrients. In: Food Intake Regulation in Poultry (Eds. Boorman, K.N. and Freeman, B.M.), British Poultry Science Ltd., Edinburgh pp. 141–169Google Scholar
Hughes, B.O. and Dewar, W.A. (1971) A specific appetite for zinc in zinc-depleted domestic fowls. British Poultry Science 12: 255–258CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, B.O. and Wood–Gush, D.G.M. (1971) Investigations into specific appetites for sodium and thiamine in domestic fowls. Physiology and Behaviour 6: 331–339CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Injidi, M.H. (1981) The involvement of melatonin, thyroid hormones and glucose in the control of feed and growth of chickens. PhD thesis, University of Leeds, 280ppGoogle Scholar
Jacobs, H.L. and Scott, S. (1957) Factors mediating food and liquid intake in chickens. I. Studies on the preference for sucrose and saccharin solutions. Poultry Science 36: 8–15CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaminska, B. (1979) Evaluation of chickens ability to meet nutrient requirements in case of free choice of different protein-level mashes. Instytut Zootechniki Prace Bad. Zakl. Hod. Drobiu 8: 47–57Google Scholar
Kare, M.R. and Maller, O. (1967) Taste and food intake in domestic and jungle fowl. Journal of Nutrition 92: 191–196CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kare, M.R. and Pick, H.L. (1960) The influence of the sense of taste on feed and fluid consumption. Poultry Science 39: 697–706CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaufmann, L.W., Collier, G. and Squibb, R.L. (1978) Selection of an adequate protein–carbohydrate ratio by domestic chicks. Physiology and Behaviour 20: 339–344CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kempster, H.L. (1916) Food selection by laying hens. Journal of the American Association of Institutions and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry 3: 26–28Google Scholar
Kiiskiinen, T. (1987) Influence of choice feeding on the performance of growing pullets and laying hens. Annales Agriculturae Fenniae 26: 131–144Google Scholar
Kirchgessner, M., Steinruck, U. and Roth, R.X. (1990) (Selective zinc intake of broilers.) Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 64: 250–260CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kutlu, H.R. and Forbes, J.M. (1983) Self–selection of ascorbic acid in coloured foods by heat–stressed broiler chicks. Physiology and Behaviour 53: 103–110CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leclercq, B. and Guy, G. (1991) Further investigations on protein requirement of genetically lean and fat chickens. British Poultry Science 32: 789–798CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leeson, S. and Summer, J.D. (1977) Dietary self–selection by poultry. Feedstuffs, Minneapolis 19: 21–24Google Scholar
Leeson, S. and Summers, J.D. (1978a) Dietary self–selection by turkeys. Poultry Science 57: 1579–1585CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leeson, S. and Summers, J.D. (1978b) Dietary selection for protein and energy by pullets and broilers. British Poultry Science 19: 425–430Google Scholar
Leibowitz, S.F., Lucas, D.J., Leibowitz, K.L. and Jhanwary, Y.S. (1991) Developmental patterns of macronutrient intake in female and male rates from weaning to maturity. Physiology and Behaviour 50: 1167–1174CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, L., York, D. and Bray, G. (1992) Acute effects of intracerebroventricular corticotropin–releasing hormone (CRH) on macronutrient selection. International Journal of Obesity (Suppl. 1): 52Google Scholar
Martin, G.M., Bellingham, W.P. and Storlien, L.H. (1977) Errects of varied colour experience on chickens' formation of colour and texture aversions. Physiology and Behaviour 8: 415–420CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mastika, I.M. and Cumming, R.B. (1985) Effect of nutrition and environmental variations on choice feeding of broilers. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia 1985 (Ed. Farrell, D.J.), University of New England, Armindale, NSWGoogle Scholar
Mastika, M. and Cumming, R.B. (1987) Effect of previous experience and environmental variations on the performance and pattern of feed intake of choice fed and complete fed broiler. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia 1987 (Ed. Farrell, D.J.), University of New England, Armindale, NSW, pp. 60–282Google Scholar
Murphy, M.E. and King, J.R. (1989) Sparrows discriminate between diets differing in valine or lysine concentrations. Physiology and Behaviour 45: 423–430CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, R.K. and Sands, D.C. (1983) Dietary selection for lysine by the chick. Physiology and Behaviour 31: 13–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NRC (1984) Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, 8th revised Edition, National Academy Press, Washington, DCGoogle Scholar
Rogers, P.J. and Blundell, J.E. (1991) Mechanisms of diet selection: the translation of needs into behaviour. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 50: 65–70CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rose, S.P. and Lambie, I.T.M. (1986) Comparison of a choice–feeding regimen for broilers under continuous and intermittent lighting programmes. Proceedings of the 7th European Poultry ConferenceParis, World's Poultry Science Association, pp 903–906Google Scholar
RoseS,P. S,P. and Michie, W. (1982) The food intakes and growth of choice–fed turkeys offered balancer mixtures of different compositions. British Poultry Science 23: 547–554Google ScholarPubMed
Rose, S.P. and Michie, W. (1986) Effect of temperature and diet during rearing of layer strain pullets. In: Nutrient Requirements of Poultry and Poultry Research, (Eds. Fisher, C. and Boorman, K.N.), Butterworths, London, pp 214–216Google Scholar
Rose, S.P. and Kyriazakis, I. (1991) Diet selection of pigs and poultry. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 50: 87–98CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rugg, W.C. (1925) Feeding experiments, free choice of feeds. Victoria, Australia, Department of Agriculture Bulletin 54: 36–56Google Scholar
Savory, C.J. (1976) Effects of different lighting regimes on diurnal feeding patterns of the domestic fowl. British Poultry Science 17: 341–350CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, T.A. and Balnave, D. (1989) Responses of sexually–maturing pullets to self–selection feeding under different temperature and lighting regimes. British Poultry Science 30: 135–150CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shariatmadari, F. and Forbes, J.M. (1990) The influences of meal composition on subsequent food selection in broiler and layer chickens. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 49: 219AGoogle Scholar
Shariatmadari, F. and Forbes, J.M. (1991) A comparison of a split diet system and choice feeding on food intake and growth of broilers. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 50: 96AGoogle Scholar
Shariatmadar, F. and Forbes, J.M. (1992a) The effect of force–feeding various levels of protein on diet selection and growth of broiler chickens. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 51: 56AGoogle Scholar
Shariatmadari, F. and Forbes, J.M. (1992b) Diurnal food intake patterns of broiler chickens offered a choice of feed varying in protein content. Animal Production 54: 470Google Scholar
Shariatmadari, F. and Forbes, J.M. (1993) Growth and food intake responses to diets of different protein contents and a choice between diets containing two levels of protein in broiler and layer strains of chicken. British Poultry Science 34: 959–970CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinurat, A.P. and Balnave, D. (1986) Free–choice feeding of broilers at high temperature. British Poultry Science 29: 577–584CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steinruck, U., Kirchgessner, M. and Roth, F.X. (1990a) [Selective methionine intake of broilers by changing the position of the diets.] Archivs fur Geflugelkunde 54: 245–250Google Scholar
Steinruck, U., Roth, F.X. and Kirchgessner, M. (1990b) [Selective feed intake of broilers during methionine deficiency.] Archivs fur Geflugelkunde 54: 173–183Google Scholar
Steinruck, U., Roth, F.X. and Kirchgessner, M. (1991) [Selective vitamin B6 intake of broilers.] Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 65: 110–119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steinruck, U. and Kirchgessner, M. (1992) [Regulation of protein intake of hens with high laying performance by self–selecting diets with different protein levels.] Archivs fur Geflugelkunde 56: 163–171Google Scholar
Stephens, D.W. and Krebs, J.R. (1986) Foraging Theory. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 247pp.Google Scholar
Summers, J.D. and Leeson, S. (1979) Diet presentation and feeding. In: Food Intake Regulation in Poultry (Eds Boorman, K.N. and Freeman, B.M.), British Poultry Science Ltd., Edinburgh, pp. 445–469Google Scholar
Wurtman, R.J. and Ferntrom, J.D. (1975) Control of brain monoamine synthesis by diet and plasma amino acids. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 28: 638–647CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed