This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of some feed
restriction regimes on the performance, carcass characteristics and
hematological values of broiler chickens. A number of 480 one-day-old
Cobb broilers were distributed into 24 floor pens and reared for 42
days. A basal diet was formulated according to the NRC (1994)
recommendations for starter (1-11 d), grower (12-28 d) and finisher
(29-42 d) periods. The restricted birds were fed 8 h per day from 7 to 21
(R7-21d), 14 to 28 d (R14-28d) or from 21 to 35d (R21-35d), while the control
birds were fed ad libitum. Birds and feed were weekly weighed, and
dead birds were submitted to necropsy to determine the cause of death.
At the end of experiment, blood samples were taken from 3 birds per
pen, birds were weighed, and organ weights were recorded. All birds
in the feed restriction treatments had lower body weight gain and feed
intake than those fed ad libitum. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better
in birds under R7-21d as compared to the control group (p