Capacity of laying hens in sequential feeding to adjust their feed consumption when offered previously a nutritionally unbalanced diet

Sequential feeding consists in splitting the diet into two fractions. Distribution of a high-energy diet in the morning followed by a diet rich in protein and calcium in the afternoon, can significantly improve feed efficiency. Nevertheless, previous works showed the difficulty of hens to regulate their feed intake and to overcome high temperatures when fed sequentially. Two experiments have been conducted to understand whether, controlling laying hens’ feed consumption in sequential feeding system, would drive them to an optimal body weight and body composition. Feed consumption and performances of birds offered sequential diets unbalanced in energy and protein contents were investigated under two contrasted temperatures from 20 to 30 weeks of age. A complete diet was fed as control and given in equal portions twice a day. Birds in sequential diets received the high-energy fraction (E) in the morning and beginning of the afternoon and the high protein and mineral fraction (P) in the late afternoon and early morning.