Effect of post-hatch transportation duration and parental age on broiler chicken quality, welfare, and productivity

Abstract

Broiler chicks are transported to production sites within one to 2 d post-hatch. Possible effects of this transportation are poorly understood and could vary among chicks from breeder flocks of different ages. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of transportation duration and parental flock age on chick welfare, productivity, and quality. After hatch in a commercial hatchery, 1,620 mixed-sex chicks from 29-wk old (young) and 1,620 chicks from 60-wk old (old) breeders were subjected to transportation of 1.5 h or 11 h duration. After transportation, 2,800 chicks were divided among 100 pens, with each pen containing 28 chicks from one transportation crate (2 or 3 pens per crate). From the remaining chicks, on average 6 chicks (min 4, max 8) per crate (n = 228) were randomly selected and assessed for chick quality, weighed, and culled for yolk sac weighing (one d). Chicks that had not been assigned to pens or were not used for post-transportation measurements, were removed from the experiment (n = 212). Mortality, ADG, BW, and feed conversion (FC) of the experimental chicks were recorded until 41 d. Meat quality was measured for breast fillets (n = 47). No interaction effect of parental age and transportation duration was found for any variables. BW and yolk sac weight at one d were lower for chicks transported 11 h than 1.5 h and for chicks from young versus old breeders. The effect of parental flock age on BW persisted until slaughter. Additionally, parental age positively affected ADG until slaughter. Chick quality was lower in chicks from old versus young breeders. Chick quality and productivity were not affected by transportation duration. Mortality and meat quality were not affected by either parental age or transportation duration. To conclude, no long-term detrimental effects were found from long post-hatch transportation in chicks from young or old parent flocks. Based on these results, we suggest that 11 h post-hatch transportations under similar conditions do not impose long-term welfare or productivity risks.

Spontaneous intake and long-term effects of essential oils after a negative postnatal experience in chicks

“…It had a temporary negative effect on FCR when an unexpected event occurred such as the transfer of chicken in another building. This is in agreement with previous studies focused on one type of postnatal experience (Bigot et al, 2003;Gonzales et al, 2003;Bergoug et al, 2013;Zhao et al, 2014;Jacobs et al, 2016;de Jong et al, 2017), but it can differ in chickens according to the age, as well as the type and the duration of the stressors. For example, food restriction during the first week of a chick's life had beneficial effects on performances and resistance to infection disease (Zulkifli et al, 1994).…”

“…After hatching, chick transportation to the broiler farms can occur in suboptimal conditions (Zulkifli et al, 1994;Valros et al, 2008;Oviedo-Rondon et al, 2009;Bergoug et al, 2013;Jacobs et al, 2016). To analyze the consequences of this experience over the whole growing period, eggs (Hubbard Classic®, Quintin, France) were incubated for 21 days under standard conditions.…”

“…Feed and water deprivation in chicks has long-lasting effects on performance (Bigot et al, 2003;Gonzales et al, 2003;de Jong et al, 2017), and also on physiological and immune parameters (Gonzales et al, 2003;Shakeel et al, 2016), which can result in higher susceptibility to diseases and mortality (Shakeel et al, 2016). The long-lasting effects of post-hatch transportation have also been described in terms of chick behavior, health, and performance (Zulkifli et al, 1994;Valros et al, 2008;Oviedo-Rondon et al, 2009;Bergoug et al, 2013;Jacobs et al, 2016). In this study, two experiments were performed.…”

Broiler-Housing Conditions Affect the Performance

“…Moreover all flocks used in this study were apparently healthy birds. A specific combination of housing features and management procedures have contributed to the amelioration of broiler conditions leading to high production efficiently and increased welfare (Meluzzi & Sirri, 2009;Jacobs et al, 2016).…”

Efecto de la humedad en incubación sobre la incubabilidad y mortalidad embrionaria del pollo de engorda en el trópico seco mexicano

“…Las aves de producción son los únicos animales que se transportan una vez que eclosionan, lo que hace que sea una experiencia importante en la vida de las aves. Comúnmente se les llama "Pollos de un día", pero en realidad pueden tener hasta tres días de edad, debido al tiempo de eclosión desde el primer pollo hasta el último, que va de 24 a 48 h (Jacobs, et al;2016).…”