The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the early-life qualitative feed restriction on the performance, gastrintestinal tract characteristics and carcass of broilers. A total of 975 one-d-old "Ross" broiler chicks, 15 plots with 30 males each and 15 plots with 35 females each, was allotted to a completely randomized design in a 5 x 2 (restriction forms x sex) factorial arrangement, with three replicates per treatment. The treatments were: 1- no dilution (control); 2 - dilution with 15% of limestone; 3 - dilution with 30% of limestone; 4 - dilution with 15% of rice hulls; 5 - dilution with 30% of rice hulls. The broilers were full fed a standard diet from 1 to 7 days and from 15 to 45 days of age. The feed restriction by dilution of diets, according to each treatment, was applied from 8th to 14th days of age. The diluted were formulated with normal levels of minerals and vitamins, and the other nutrients were reduced according to the dilution. The broilers allotted to early-life qualitative feed restriction, by the dilution with and 15% of limestone and 15.0 or 30.0% of rice hulls showed a compensatory growth with a good final performance. However, the restriction with 30% of limestone was severe, prejudicing the broiler performance. The gastrintestinal tract characteristics alteration occurred with the feed restriction, but there was a recovering up to the slaughter time. The broilers allotted to a qualitative feed restriction showed less fat and more protein deposition in carcass, as compared with the control.
carcass; performance; broiler; feed restriction; gastrintestinal tract
