The effect of meal-feeding and food restriction on body composition, food utilization and intestinal adaptation in light-breed chicks.

The effects of feeding meals, in amounts equivalent to ad lib, intake or to 75% and 50% restriction by intubation, were studied in chicks. Growth estimated by body-weight gain and shank length was improved by tube feeding in the 50%-restricted chicks. Tube feeding increased energy retention at all feeding levels and nitrogen retention in the restricted chicks only. Body fat was increased in the full-fed chicks by intubation and decreased in the 50%-restricted chicks only. Crop and gizzard weights were increased by food restriction and by intubation. Tube-feeding increased the weight of the small intestine at all feeding levels. The activities of the digestive enzymes were lower in the pancreas and higher in the small intestine of the tube-fed chicks than in the voluntarily-fed ones at all feeding levels. It is suggested that synthesis, secretion and stability of the different pancreatic enzymes could be affected diversely by feeding regimens.