FEEDING PEA TO MODULATE POST-PRANDIAL METABOLIC RESPONSE: IMPACT ON WELFARE, HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF FEED RESTRICTED BROILER BREEDERS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for 244 d to investigate the impact of feeding a pea or wheat based diet on post-prandial metabolic status, production, health and welfare of feed restricted broiler breeders. A wheat- or pea-based diet was fed on an every-other-day basis from 3-15 wk of age and every-day basis thereafter (15-21 wk). At 21 wk of age, broiler breeder pullets were fed either a pea- or wheat-based diet once (OAD; 08:00) or twice (TAD; 08:00, 15:00) a day until the end of experimental period. At 84 d of age, uniformity was improved by feeding a pea-based diet. Broiler breeders fed a pea-based diet resulted in a reduced post-prandial glucose peak and relative liver weight and fat content over the period between meals. A treatment by time interaction showed that less fat was stored in the liver over the period of 48 h as a result of feeding a pea-based diet. Over the 48 h period between feeding, the expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase and VLDL-apolipoprotein was reduced for birds fed pea. Interaction effects of dietary treatment and time demonstrated a reduced degree of change (over the period of 48 h) in the expression of malic enzyme genes in pullets fed a pea-based diet. Birds fed a wheat-based diet demonstrated increased drinking over the 48 h period. Interactions between diet and day showed that pullets fed a pea-based diet expressed increased comfort and resting behavior, and reduced foraging and walking behavior during the off-feed day (24-48 h). Feeding a pea-based diet resulted in reduced levels of serum non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate starting at 26 to 28 h post-feeding. During the laying phase, feeding the wheat-based diet on TAD basis improved hen-day egg production as compared to the OAD feeding program, but feeding frequency did not affect production of hens fed the pea-based diet. Hens fed the pea-based diet once-a-day had a lower average egg weight than other diet by feeding frequency subclasses. Feeding a pea-based diet reduced total embryonic mortality. In conclusion, feeding a pea-based diet resulted in improved performance and welfare of feed restricted broiler breeders.