Alternative methodswere assessed of qualitative feed restriction compared to the conventional forcedmolt technique. Four hundred and eighty Babcock hens were used distributed inthree levels of feed restriction (100, 75 and 50%) and three body weight reductionpercentages (15, 20 and 25%), with five replications of 32 hens. When the birdsreached the body weight reduction percentage the packed cell volume, percentagesof ovary, oviduct, gizzard, intestine, abdominal fat and oviduct length weredetermined. Starting on day 28 and during five 28-day periods the quantitativeand qualitative characteristics of production after forced molt were measured.The largest restriction period occurred at 50% of restriction that resultedin the smallest percentages of abdominal fat (0.66%), ovary (0.60%), oviduct(0.77%) and oviduct length (32 cm). The egg production percentage was higherin the first period, for the 75 and 100% restriction methods with up to 15 and20% body weight reduction, respectively. However, for the birds with 50% restrictionand 25% body weight reduction, the highest productions (86.80 and 83.20%) occurredin the 4th and 5th periods. Qualitative feed restrictionat 50% of the diet with feed and rice hulls, because it was less aggressive,resulted in better welfare conditions and facilitated farm management.
