Abstract / Description of output
This study aimed to identify hungry broiler breeders (n = 12) preferences for quantitative (control) or qualitative dietary restriction (QDR) in a closed economy environment. The QDR option was either 3 g calcium propionate/kg total feed (n = 6) or 300 g oat hulls/kg total feed (n = 6). Quantitatively restricted or QDR portions ensured equal growth regardless of choice. Birds were separately taught a Control diet versus no food and a QDR diet versus no food task to allow each diet's satiating properties to be learnt. Birds had to associate the T-maze coloured arms with dietary outcomes to immediately obtain food. Birds learnt this task easily (p <0.001). A choice between the control diet and the QDR diet was then offered but neither group demonstrated a diet preference. Study modifications demonstrated this was not a failure to discriminate between the diets per se (the Control diet was strongly preferred under ad libitum conditions (p <0.001)) or novel colour combination confusion (the colour associated with food was immediately selected when two novel food versus no food colour combinations were offered (p <0.001)). Most birds still failed to show a significant preference when the Control diet quantity was increased by 50% to make it 'obviously' bigger and better. Therefore, it was concluded that the failure to show a dietary preference was due to task learning failure and not necessarily lack of dietary preference. Where a preference was observed it was always for the control diet. Possible reasons for this failure to learn are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 216-227 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Volume | 133 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2011 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Broiler breeder
- Quantitative feed restriction
- Qualitative food restriction
- Choice tests
- Preference testing
- Hunger stress
- QUANTITATIVE FOOD RESTRICTION
- FEED RESTRICTION
- DOMESTIC-FOWL
- GALLUS-DOMESTICUS
- ANIMAL-WELFARE
- BEHAVIOR
- DISCRIMINATION
- MOTIVATION
- IMPROVE
- STRESS