Early Post-Hatch Nutrition Influences Performance and Muscle Growth in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The poultry industry is under pressure to produce safe and good quality meat in the welfare conditions. Many areas such as genetics, biosecurity, and immunoprophylaxis were improved, and hatchery is one of the areas in which welfare could be improved for better production output. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of early post-hatch nutrition providing body weight and muscle development in broiler chickens. The experiment involving two groups (chicken hatched with access to water and feed in the hatcher, and chicken without feed and water in hatcher) was replicated three times, and the body weights and breast-muscle index of the randomly chosen 30 chickens per group in each term were measured on the 1st, 7th, 21st, and 35th day of life. The breast-muscle sample was taken for genetic examination (the expression of the myoD, myoG, and MRF4 genes) and histological examination. The results showed that the positive effect of early nutrition was observed on the seventh day of bird life with higher expression of myoG and MRF4 and higher body weight of the birds. The positive effect of early nutrition on the diameter of the breast-muscle fibers was visible on days 21 and 35 of chicken life. The average final body weight in groups with early access to food and water was 5% higher than in groups hatched under classic conditions. Conclusions: early feeding in the hatcher improves performance and muscle growth in broiler chickens.

An Overview of Poultry Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Mediterranean Area

“…In addition, poultry-related stakeholders should avail themselves of new hatchery techniques, including but not limited to on-tray feeding at hatchery and immediate access to feed [142,143], on-farm hatching of eggs with immediate access to feed [144], and in ovo supplementation of nutrients [145].…”

Impact of early posthatch feeding on the immune system and selected hematological, biochemical, and hormonal parameters in broiler chickens

“…Subsequently, they undergo hatchery treatments before being transported to broiler farms, often causing a delay of up to 72 h before the chicks receive their first feed and water ( Willemsen et al, 2010 ). Fasting during this initial period after hatching, has been found to have detrimental effects, including weight loss ( Pinchasov and Noy, 1993 ; Juul-Madsen et al, 2004 ; Careghi et al, 2005 ; Henderson et al, 2008 ; van de Ven et al, 2009 ; Lamot et al, 2016 ), increased susceptibility to pathogens ( Dibner et al, 1996 ), decreased immune performance ( Juul-Madsen et al, 2004 ), and delayed muscle and satellite cell development ( Halevy et al, 2000 ; Moore et al, 2005 ; Gaweł et al, 2022 ). It also impairs the maturation and colonization of gut-associated lymphoid tissue ( GALT ) in the hindgut and delays the increase of B and T cells in the bursa ( Shira et al, 2005 ).…”

“…The aforementioned commercial breeding conditions impose significant stressors on chicks, resulting in immediate and long-term consequences ( van de Ven et al, 2011 ; Tong et al, 2015a , b ; Elmehdawi et al, 2016 ; Hollemans et al, 2018 ; Hedlund et al, 2019 ; de Jong et al, 2020 ; Gaweł et al, 2022 ; Li et al, 2022 ). While numerous studies have explored the physiology of chicks after hatching ( Gonzales et al, 2003 ; Christensen, 2009 ; Elmehdawi et al, 2016 ; Hollemans et al, 2018 ; Ozlu et al, 2018 ), there is limited knowledge about the impact of stress on birds during this early life period ( Hedlund et al, 2019 ).…”

In ovo probiotic supplementation promotes muscle growth and development in broiler embryos

“…During the late embryonic period, muscle growth occurs through hypertrophy, and muscle fiber number is fixed at hatch with no posthatch hyperplasia ( Halevy et al, 2006b ; Xu et al, 2021b ). Subsequent posthatch muscle fiber growth occurs through hypertrophy (Gawel et al, 2022) .…”