Effects of feed restriction on growth and reproduction in randombred and selected lines of Japanese quail.

Feed restriction (70% of ad libitum consumption) was carried out from 1 d after hatching until 44 d in a randombred quail line and until 28 d in a quail line selected for high 4-wk BW. Body weights of restricted quail were significantly lower than ad libitum controls during restriction. Two weeks after restriction ended, however, BW were no longer different. Mortalities were twice as high under restriction. Hatchability of eggs was not affected by restriction, but restricted quail of the selected line laid fewer double-yolk eggs than ad libitum controls.