Title: The Effect of Meal-Eating on Egg Production and Body Weight of White Leghorn Chickens
Abstract: S. C. White Leghorn adult females were fed a diet, with 17.5 percent protein and metabolizable energy of 3.00 kcal./g., under 6 different schedules for 6 weeks starting soon after the onset of egg production. Hens converted to meal-eaters and fed split schedules of two 2½-hour periods or one 4-hour period had significantly improved feed/egg ratios of 15 and 11 percent on 20 and 23 percent less food, respectively, as compared to controls fed ad libitum. Body weights on restricted schedules showed no change or a 3 to 5 percent loss, as compared to control body weight which increased 9 percent during the 6 weeks of the experiment. Meal-eaters on two 1½-hour or two 2-hour periods produced 8 percent less eggs with a total weight 20 percent less than the 22.0 kg. of eggs produced by the ad libitum fed groups. The latter restricted groups showed no significant improvement in feed/egg ratios. Following the restricted feeding schedules, the hens were observed for 8 weeks on ad libitum feeding schedules. Those previously restricted the most consumed more diet and gained enough weight to equal or exceed control values.