RT - Journal Article T1 - Effect of Dietary Protein Level and Feed Restriction on Performance and Body Temperature of Broilers Subjected to Heat Stress JF - JSTNAR YR - 2007 JO - JSTNAR VO - 11 IS - 1 UR - http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-676-en.html SP - 451 EP - 460 K1 - Protein K1 - Performance K1 - Feed restriction K1 - Heat stress K1 - Broilers. AB - The effect of dietary protein level and feed restriction on performance, body temperature and hematological values was evaluated, using Ross 308 broiler chicks under heat stress. For this purpose, three dietary treatments were fed to broilers during 21 to 42 days of age. Two treatments consisted of diets with protein levels recommended by NRC, 1994 and 85% of NRC recommendation and were fed ad-lib during the experiment. The third treatment was a feed restriction group that was fed diet with protein level recommended by NRC, but chicks were deprived of feed for 6 hours during heat stress challenge. Birds had free access to water. Results indicated that lowering protein content or feed restriction had no significant effect on body weight gain (P>0.05). Feed restriction resulted in significantly decreased feed intake, improved feed conversion and energy efficiency ratio, and decreased body temperature after heat stress challenge at 24 and 32 days (P LA eng UL http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-676-en.html M3 ER -