The objective of this work was to evaluate the validity of prediction equation of metabolizable energy requirements, that was previously determined at Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias of UNESP -Jaboticabal. The pullets were distributed in a randomized design with three treatments and six replication of 18 pullets from 3 to 8 wk-age, 15 birds from 9 to 12 wk-age and 12 birds from13 to 18 wk-age. The treatments consisted of comparing the performance of pullets feeding according to: ad libitum feeding, the strain recommendation and prediction equations for metabolizable energy (ME) requirements. The effect of treatments was evaluated in the growing phase and during the production phase to verify the effect of programs feeding during the growing on the egg production. From 3 to 8 weeks, the ME prediction equations promoted less feed and ME intakes than other treatments, and consequently these pullets showed lower body weight and smaller uniformity. In the following phases, an addition of 37% to ME maintenance requirement was used in order to correct the ME requirement of prediction equation. At 18 weeks, the ad libitum feeding showed the highest ME intake and birds of all treatments showed higher body weight than the strain recommendations. During the production phase, the treatments did not affect the productive performance.
energy requirements; prediction equation; pullets performance
