Sustaining broiler feed intake at high stocking densities

At the stocking densities currently used commercially, it’s usually necessary for broilers to have to actively compete at feeders once bodyweight reaches a certain minimum physical size. This physical crowding at the feeders first becomes noticeable at around 28 days (d) of age, when birds reach about 1,650 grammes. Consequently, it’s often seen that broilers meet the standard weight of around 1 kg at 21d, but from 28d onwards birds invariably lag behind their genetic potential. Figure 1