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≤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.

Effects of post-hatch nutrition of arginine, lysine, methionine and threonine on performance and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens

“…Earlier, it seemed that nutrients of yolk including proteins and carbohydrates were enough for growth and developments of chickens during post-hatch period. Next studies cleared that early feeding of chickens with different percent of crude protein, starch, soybean oil or casein could enhance growth of different apparatus of body such as digestive and immune systems (Madsen et al, 2004;Pinheiro et al, 2004;Bhanja et al, 2010;Yadav et al, 2011). In the present study, the broiler chickens were fed 4 amino acids for 48 h, and their doses were suggested by previous studies.…”

“…Many studies examined the effects of post-hatch nutrition on chickens, which indicated that feeding in this period of rearing, could imply positive effects on chicken performance in comparison with feed deprivation (Gonzales et al, 2003;Madsen et al, 2004;Bhanja et al, 2010;Noy & Uni, 2010;Mahmoudi et al, 2012). Earlier, it seemed that nutrients of yolk including proteins and carbohydrates were enough for growth and developments of chickens during post-hatch period.…”

“…In contrast, shortening the time of deprivation in post hatched chicks, improved body growth and developed intestine, pancreas and immune system (Jin et al, 1998;Madsen et al, 2004). It has been suggested that an accumulation of nutrients in crop of chicks may contribute in the development of digestive system even before arriving to industrial farm (Bhanja et al, 2010).…”

Early post hatch feeding in chicks and practical constrains-A review

“…Delaying access to feed and water: Noy and skylan (2001) reported that the delay access of feed and water that can cause reduced body weight gain and that negatively impact on breast muscle yield. Bhanja et al (2010) reported that feed and water provision delay means its leads to slow down the gastro intestinal system and immune system. Uni and ferket (2004) reported that 5% reduced body weight due to the delay accessing feed and water.…”

The effect of feeding pre-starter on performance efficiency of local chicken (KUB chicken)

“…Perkembangan saluran pencernaan yang lebih sehat pada umur dini terbukti dapat meningkatkan proses pencernaan dan absorbsi zat-zat gizi secara maksimum pada ayam broiler modern (Choct 2009;Kidd 2009). Oleh karena itu ransum yang diberikan pada umur dini (segera setalah menetas) sangat penting (Bhanja et al 2010), karena disamping dapat meningkatkan penyerapan residual yolk sac, juga dapat merangsang pertumbuhan saluran pencernaan dan meningkatan kekebalan tubuh ayam.…”