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Abstract
Genetic selection for increased growth rate in our broilers makes feed restriction programs for broiler breeders essential for managing body weight, flock uniformity, and reproductive performance. Ensuring that breeders achieve and maintain their proper body weight is conducive to good health and reproductive efficiency. However, due to the high level of feed restriction welfare issues such as frustration and hunger are prominent. Qualitative feed restriction can be used to mitigate these behaviors as well as limit growth rate. Whole oats, wheat middling’s, and large particles of corn were used to make a high fiber and bulky diet so that it could be fed on an every-day (ED) or skip-a-day (SAD) basis. The use of this diet on an ED basis shows an improvement in performance with: increased body weight, improved uniformity, improved egg weight, improved egg shell quality, and earlier onset of lay. These results suggest that ED feeding can improve broiler breeder reproductive parameters. Roosters play an essential role in flock fertility and their nutritional needs must be optimized for longevity of flock fertility. In the US, roosters are commonly fed a hen diet that is over formulated for their nutritional needs. Utilization of a diet tailored to a roosters nutritional needs with lower levels of calcium and protein improves early in life semen production as well as microanatomy lesions in the kidneys. Supplementing these tailored diets with omega-3 fatty acids or organic selenium can further improve male reproduction parameters by increasing flock fertility and semen quality. The results suggest that the utilization of diet tailored to a rooster’s nutritional needs then supplemented with and omega-3 fatty acid or organic selenium product can improve male reproduction parameters and flock fertility.