Effect of Post-hatch Nutrient Intubation on Performance, Intestinal Growth, Meat Yield and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The response of broiler chicks to intubation of nutrients (starch, casein, soybean oil or their combinations) into the crop immediately after hatch was evaluated for performance, intestinal development, meat yield and immune competence up to 35 d of age. A control group with no access to feed and two test groups fed either inert material (sawdust) or starter diet for the initial 24 h after hatch were compared with nutrient intubated groups (n = 7). A total of 300 broiler chicks were equally distributed to 10 dietary groups with 6 replicates of 5 chicks each. After 24 h of hatch, all groups were fed ad libitum the starter (0-21 d) and finisher diets (22-35 d). Results indicated that post-hatch intubation of starch into the crop significantly (p${\leq}$0.05) improved body weight (at 14 and 35 d of age), readyto-cook meat yields, weights of breast muscle and small intestine segments, cell-mediated immune response, ND titers and weight of bursa compared to chicks starved or fed sawdust during the initial 24 h after hatch. However, chicks with access to feed immediately after hatch or intubation of starch, soybean oil, starch+casein, starch+soybean oil or starch+casein+soybean oil exhibited similar positive effects. Intubation of casein either alone or in combination with soybean oil was superior to the starved or sawdust fed groups, but inferior to other groups for all the parameters studied. It was concluded from the study that intubation of starch individually or in combination with casein and/or soybean oil effectively circumvented the negative effects of post-hatch starvation for 24 h. Among the nutrients intubated, carbohydrate (starch) was better utilized by the chicks than protein (casein) or fat during the initial post-hatch period.

Keywords

Post-hatch Nutrient Intubation;Performance;Intestinal Growth;Meat Yield;Immune Response;Broiler Chickens

File

Download PDF

References

1. Corrier, D. E. and J. R. Deloach. 1990. Evaluation of cellmediated, cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity in young chickens by an inter-digital skin test. Poult. Sci. 69:403-408 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0690403
2. Duncan, D. B. 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1-42 https://doi.org/10.2307/3001478
3. Noy, Y. and D. Sklan. 1999. Different types of early feeding and performance in chicks and poults. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 8:16-24
4. Vieira, S. L. and E. T. Moran, Jr. 1999. Effects of delayed placement and used litter on broiler yields. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 8:75-81
5. Dibner, J. J., C. D. Knight, M. L. Kitchell, C. A. Atwell, A. C. Downs and F. J. Ivey. 1998. Early feeding and development of the immune system in neonatal poultry. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 7:425-436
6. Madsen, J. H. R., G. Su and P. Sorensen. 2004. Influence of early or late start of first feeding on growth and immune phenotype of broilers. Br. Poult. Sci. 45:210-222 https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660410001715812
7. Nir, I. and M. Levanon. 1993. Effect of posthatch holding time on performance and on residual yolk and liver composition. Poult. Sci. 72:1994-1997 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0721994
8. Jin, S. H., A. Corless and L. J. Sell. 1998. Digestive system development in post-hatch poultry. Worlds Poult. Sci. J. 54:335-345 https://doi.org/10.1079/WPS19980023
9. Moran, E. T. 1990. Effects of egg weight, glucose administration at hatch, and delayed access to feed and water on the poult at 2 weeks of age. Poult. Sci. 69:1718-1723 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0691718
10. Wegmann, T. G. and O. Smithies. 1966. A simple hemagglutination system requiring small amounts of red cells and antibodies. Transfusion 6:67-73 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.1966.tb04696.x
11. Bigot, K., G. S. Mingon, M. Picard and S. Tesseraud. 2003. Effects of delayed feed intake on body, intestine and muscle development in neonate broilers. Poult. Sci. 82:781-788
12. Moran, E. T. 1985. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in fowl through perinatal development. J. Nutr. 115:665-674
13. Nir, I., Z. E. A. Nistan, P. Dunnington and P. B. Siegel. 1996. Aspects of food intake restriction in domestic fowl: Metabolic and genetic considerations. Worlds Poult. Sci. J. 52:251-266 https://doi.org/10.1079/WPS19960019
14. Noy, Y. and D. Sklan. 1997. Posthatch development in poultry. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 6:344-354
15. Wyatt, C. L., W. D. Weaver and W. L. Beane. 1985. Influence of egg size, egg shell quality and posthatch holding time on broiler performance. Poult. Sci. 64:2049-2055 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0642049
16. Noy, Y. and Y. Pinchasov. 1993. Effect of a single posthatch intubation of nutrients on subsequent early performance of broiler chicks and turkey poults. Poult. Sci. 72:1861-1866 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0721861
17. Dibner, J. 1999. Feeding hatchling poultry. Feed Int., 12: 30-34
18. AOAC. 1995. Official methods of analysis. 16th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Washington, DC. 2044
19. Snedecor, G. W. and W. G. Cochran. 1989. Statistical Methods. Oxford and IBH. Publishing Company, New Delhi
20. Zlatkis, A., B. Zak and A. J. Boyle. 1953. A new method for the direct determination of serum cholesterol. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 41:486-492
21. Pinchosav, Y. 1991. Relationship between the weight of hatching eggs and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks. Br. Poult. Sci. 32:109-115 https://doi.org/10.1080/00071669108417332

Cited by

1. Effects of time of initiation of feeding after hatching and diet composition on performance, carcass characteristics, digestive tract development and immune responses of broilers vol.57, pp.8, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15839
2. Using different levels of glycerine, glucose, or sucrose in broiler starter diets to overcome negative effects of delayed feed access on growth performance vol.98, pp.2, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2017-0039