APSS 2013 Proceedings - The University of Sydney

Aust. Poult. Sci. Symp. 2013.....24
(Moore et al., 2005). Similar responses were observed when dietary energy was restricted as
shown in studies by Mozdziak et al. (2002). A reduced cell division of micro satellite cells
resulted from a lack of energy supply 2 days post hatch that was subsequently associated with
a significantly lower carcass yield at slaughter time (P < 0.05).
VI. EARLY FEEDING STRATEGIES
a) In-ovo injection during incubation
A large body of evidence exists that the developing embryo is able to utilize nutrients prior to
hatching, as a complete chick during the actual hatching process but also during transport and
standard placement of chicks upon arrival on the farm (Noy and Uni, 2010).
Several experiments have concluded that supplementation of 1 ml of Na + , Cl - , dextrin,
and HMB (2-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoic acid) in-ovo led to a significant increase in liver
glycogen content on day of hatch. It strongly stimulated enteric development 48 h after inovo
injection (Tako et al., 2004) and was also associated with a significantly increased villi
height and crypt depth, higher mRNA expression combined with a higher activity of mucosal
brush-border enzymes and various nutrient transporter systems as well as a significant
increase in pancreatic enzyme secretion capacity
Research on chicks originating from younger breeder flocks has shown that in-ovo
feeding increased chick weights at hatch and breast meat yield at the end of a 25 day long test
period significantly (Noy and Uni, 2010). Research and investigations on the merit of in-ovo
injection into the amnionic fluid continue on molecules and substances like amino acids,
carbohydrates, vitamins, nucleotides and hormones (McGruder et al., 2011). Provimi, for
example, has its own in-ovo injection system and an experimental incubation facility to
conduct nutritional research in this area for the development of new neonatal and/or early
nutrition concepts.
b) New brooding concepts post hatch
Early access to feed and water immediately upon hatch has been shown to be a key factor for
improving post-hatch growth performance of broilers. The speed of development of the
gastrointestinal tract strongly exceeds the rate of growth of the broiler during the early post
hatch period (Potturi et al., 2005). This has significant relevance for how hatcheries are
operated. In the current standard commercial hatchery system, chicks are taken out from the
hatcher only when the majority of the chicks have emerged from the shell. The number of
chicks this represents depends on the timespan of the “hatch window”. In either case, this
leaves a significant portion of the chicks deprived of feed and water for extended periods of
time with all the associated disadvantages on gastrointestinal development and growth as
outlined previously. Chick services, vaccinations and transport, etc. add to the suboptimal
conditions that have a negative effect on chick livability and post-hatch growth and carcass
performance up to market age. Practical experience has consistently proven that controlling
broiler house conditions such as room and floor temperatures, air speeds and humidity levels
in narrowly defined ranges is difficult (Weytjens et al., 1999).
One new innovation in broiler production, trying to address these performance
impairing factors, is the “HatchBrood” system. This equipment controls very precisely the
crucial housing variables during the first few days of the chick’s life. Immediately post-hatch,
chicks are placed into the HatchBrood system. Chicks have instant access to fresh water and
feed. The HatchBrood system guarantees a controlled air temperature and air velocity which
assures optimum chick body temperatures at all times. Importantly, the chicks will start
eating and drinking almost immediately after placement. Following 4 days in the HatchBrood
system, the chicks are then transported to a standard commercial farm for the remainder of
their growing period.
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