Influence of the sense of taste on broiler chick feed consumption.

This study was performed to determine the effects of five flavored diets on feed consumption, weight gain, and feed efficiency of broiler cockerels. Isocaloric diets were flavored with .06% saccharin, 6% citric acid, 5% salt, .10% quinine, or .13% aspartame. In Experiment 1, 1-wk-old broiler cockerels were fed an unflavored control diet ad libitum from a divided feed tray for 3 wk. Sides of the feed tray were rotated daily, every other day, or not at all, to determine the effect of position on preference. In Experiment 2, 1-day-old broiler cockerels were offered a choice between an unflavored control diet and a flavored diet, in an ad libitum feeding arrangement, for 3 wk. In Experiment 3, 1-day-old broiler cockerels were offered a choice between two flavored diets fed ad libitum for 3 wk. Daily rotation of the feed tray eliminated preferences due to position. When each side of the feed tray contained the same unflavored diet and was rotated daily, there were no significant differences in feed consumption, weight gain, or feed efficiency. In Experiment 2, there were significant differences in feed consumption between the control diet and all flavored diets except aspartame. The birds offered saccharin, citric acid, salt, and quinine ate significantly less of these diets than of the unflavored control diet. In Experiment 3, the birds detected the differences in flavor and consumed the feed in a specific order of preference: aspartame, saccharin, citric acid, salt, quinine.