Broilers have an enormous potential for growth. This growth requires an optimal functioning of the birds, of its organs, its immune system, its respiratory and cardio-vascular systems, its legs, etc.

If the body of the bird is not able to deal with its growth, problems with mortality and also with feed conversion can occur. This is due to an imbalance between the demand of the bird and what its body can supply.

To bring the bird back in balance, it may be necessary to implement a form of growth control. This growth control can focus on:

-Early restriction
By restricting the birds early in life, we try to increase the development of organs, and therefore, increase the capacity of the bird later on to supply the growing tissues with the necessary nutrients.

- Late restriction
By controlling the growth at the end of the growing period, we try to reduce the demand of nutrients hence, helping the bird to stay in balance during this period of high demand.

Restriction can be done by:
Light
Feed
Water

Every system of restriction has its own positive and negative sides. For every system however, it holds that a good control is a must, and that it should only be applied when necessary, to get the birds back in balance. Furthermore, growth restriction will increase the competition for feed in a flock, so the equipment must be able to handle the restriction.