Breeder age and hatching egg storage duration: effects on post-hatch performance of FUNAAB- α broiler chickens

This trial was designed to evaluate the influence of hatching egg storage length and broiler breeder hens' age on post-hatch growth performance and physiological responses of FUNAAB-α chickens. Five hundred fertile eggs from each of 60 and 32-wk-old FUNAAB-α breeder hens were collected and assigned to five storage durations (0, 3, 7, 11, and 15 d). The hatching eggs were incubated using the conventional protocol. Data were collected on the growth performance and physiological responses. A 2 × 5 factorial design was used for the experiment. The results revealed that there was a decline in the final body weight in chickens from eggs of 15 and 11 d storage compared to the chickens from 7, 3, and 0 egg storage days. Chickens of 32-week-old breeder hens had higher (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell, heterophil, and pack cell volume values compared to 60-week-old breeder hens. Hatchlings from 60-week-old breeders had a higher liver percentage (3.0% yolk-free body weight [YFBW]) than those from 32-week-old breeders (2.8% YFBW). It was concluded that an extended storage duration of 15 d adversely affected the carcass traits and growth performance of chickens from egg storage above seven days.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Live Performance, Selected Blood Parameters, and Expression of Water Channel and Stress-Related mRNA Transcripts of Delayed Placement Broiler Chicks

This study examined the effect of supplemental betaine on live performance, selected blood parameters, and gene expression of water channel proteins (Aquaporins, AQP) of broiler chicks delayed in placement for 48 h post-hatch. In total, 540 newly-hatched male broiler chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and were randomly allotted to one of five treatments with nine replicates per treatment (12 chicks per replicate). Chicks were either placed immediately, control; held for 48 h post-hatch with no access to feed or water, Holdnull; held for 48 h with free access to drinking water only, HoldW; held for 48 h with free access to drinking water supplemented with 1 ml per L of betaine solution (40% betaine), HoldB1; or held for 48 h with free access to drinking water supplemented with 2 ml per L of betaine solution (40% betaine), HoldB2 group. The results showed that post-hatch holding for 48 h depressed feed intake and body weight gain during the entire 15 d study period with no beneficial effect of supplemental betaine. Chicks in the HoldB2 group had elevated serum glucose, triglycerides, and aspartate aminotransferase 48 h post-hatch. Early water deprivation directly affected the brain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and hepatic glucocorticoid receptors (GR) expression and induced significant changes in various aquaporins (AQP1, AQP2, AQP4, and AQP9). In conclusion, betaine supplementation to chicks held for 48 h post-hatch resulted in some changes in blood biochemical indices with no effects on performance during the first 15 days of life. The results suggest that betaine supplementation could ameliorate the stressful effects of water deprivation on POMC and GR expression and maintain cellular osmosis through interactions with variable aquaporins expression, particularly the AQP1 and AQP2. Further investigations are required to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the selective regulatory expression of different aquaporins in relation to betaine supplementation.

Day-old chicken quality and performance of broiler chickens from 3 different hatching systems

In on-farm hatching systems, eggs are transported at d 18 of incubation to the broiler farm, where chickens have immediate access to feed and water after hatching. In hatchery-fed systems, newly hatched chickens have immediate access to feed and water in the hatchery and are transported to the farm thereafter. Conventionally hatched chickens can remain without access to feed and water up to 72 h after hatching until placement on the farm. The current study compared day-old chicken quality, performance, and slaughter yield of broiler chickens that were on-farm hatched (OH), hatchery-fed (HF), or conventionally hatchery-hatched (HH). The experiment was performed in 6 rooms in 1 house. Each room contained 2 duplicate pens with approximately 1,155 chickens per pen; 2 rooms with each 2 duplicate pens were assigned to 1 treatment. The experiment was repeated during 3 consecutive production cycles. Chickens originated from young parent stock flocks. Results showed that HF and OH chickens were heavier and longer than HH chickens at day (D) 1. Relative weight of stomach and intestines were highest for OH chickens. The OH chickens had worse day-old chicken quality in terms of navel condition and red hocks than HH and HF chickens. Treatments did not differ in first wk and total mortality. From D0 until slaughter age, body weight was highest for OH, followed by HF and HH. Furthermore, carcass weight at slaughter age (D40) was highest for OH chickens, followed by HF and HH chickens. Breast fillets showed a higher incidence of white striping and wooden breast in HF and OH chickens compared with HH chickens. In conclusion, the current study showed that both OH and HF chickens of young parent flocks had better growth performance, which could explain the higher prevalence of breast myopathies, compared with HH. The worse day-old chicken quality for OH compared with HH and HF does not seem to affect first wk mortality and later life performance.

Interactions between egg storage duration and broiler breeder age on egg fat content, chicken organ weights, and growth performance

Egg storage and breeder age are between the most important factors affecting egg lipids, chicken quality, and posthatch performance. To evaluate these factors, including their interaction, the impact of egg storage duration (5, 12, and 19 D), and breeder age (47 and 67 wk) was investigated in Arbor Acres broiler eggs and chickens. Total yolk fat content, chicken organ development at hatch and at 6 D of age, and posthatch performance (at 7 D and 35 D of age) were determined. Total fat content in fresh yolk was lower in 12 and 19 D stored eggs than in 5 D stored eggs (Δ = -2.42% on average). In hatchlings, the heart percentage was not affected by storage duration in the younger flock but was higher after 19 D than after 5 and 12 D of storage in the old flock (Δ = +0.09% on average). Residual yolk weight was higher after 12 D egg storage than after 5 D egg storage (Δ = +1.7 g), with 19 D egg storage in between. Liver and intestine percentage decreased with storage duration. Residual yolk weight (Δ = +1.09 g) and liver percentage (Δ = +0.18%) were higher in old breeders than in younger breeders. At day 6, chicken BW, yolk free body mass, liver percentage, and intestine percentage interacted between egg storage duration and breeder age with the strongest effects in chickens from older breeder after 19 D of storage. Heart percentage was lower after 19 D compared with 5 and 12 D of storage (Δ = -0.05% on average). Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were higher between day 0 to 7 and 0 to 35 after 19 D than after 5 D egg storage (Δ19-5 D = +12 g and +199 g; +0.11 points and +0.09 points, respectively). It can be concluded that when it is needed, eggs from younger breeders should be stored for a prolonged period (≥12 D) rather than those from older breeders.

In ovo injection of branched-chain amino acids: Embryonic development, hatchability and hatching quality of turkey poults

In this study, the influence of a branched-chain amino acid blend (BCAA composed of 3 l-leucine:1 l-valine:2 l-isoleucine) injected into the amniotic fluid was evaluated for embryonic growth, yolk-sac (YS) utilization and development of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and skeletal muscles of turkey embryos from day 24 of incubation (24E) to hatching, together with hatchability, poult quality and liver L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values at hatch. At day 22 of incubation, embryonated eggs (n = 240) were assigned to three treatments, that is, eggs were not injected (control, NC) or injected with 1.5 ml sterile solution with 0.9% salt (SA) or 0.2% BCAA blend (BCAAb). These solutions were injected manually into the amniotic fluid of the embryonated eggs. To determine weights and lengths (where appropriate) of the studied organs and tissues, four embryonated eggs and poults per treatment were selected at 24E and at hatch. While the BCAAb decreased the YS and embryo weight, hatchability and the liver L* value, it increased the weight and quality of poults and the weights of breast and thigh muscles at hatch. In conclusion, the in ovo feeding of the BCAA blend negatively affected hatchability but positively affected hatching weight and poult quality by improving development of skeletal muscles and by regulating energy metabolism.

Effect of transportation duration of 1-day-old chicks on postplacement production performances and pododermatitis of broilers up to slaughter age

This experiment studied the effect of transportation duration of 1-d-old chicks on dehydration, mortality, production performance, and pododermatitis during the growout period. Eggs from the same breeder flock (Ross PM3) were collected at 35, 45, and 56 wk of age, for 3 successive identical experiments. In each experiment, newly hatched chicks received 1 of 3 transportation duration treatments from the hatchery before placement in the on-site rearing facility: no transportation corresponding to direct placement in less than 5 min (T00), or 4 (T04) or 10 h (T10) of transportation. The chicks were housed in 35-m(2) pens (650 birds each) and reared until 35 d old. Hematocrit and chick BW were measured on sample chicks before and after transportation. During the growout period, bird weight, feed uptake, and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly until slaughter. Transportation duration affected BW; T00 groups had a significantly higher BW than T04 and T10 transported birds but this effect lasted only until d 21. No clear effect on hematocrit, feed uptake, feed conversion ratio, or mortality was observed for birds transported up to 10 h. The decrease in weight in T10 birds was associated with less severe pododermatitis. Increasing age of the breeder flock was correlated with reduced egg fertility and hatchability, and also with higher quality and BW of hatched chicks. Chicks from older breeders also exhibited reduced mortality during the growout period.