Early nutrition for broiler chickens
Prof. Paul A. Iji
School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of
New England, Armidale NSW, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Outline of my Presentation
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•
•
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Background
Gut development in broiler chickens
Early nutrition and its benefits
Early feeding programmes
– In ovo feeding
– Immediate post-hatch access to feed
• Products used in early feeding programmes
• Other nutritional interventions
• Conclusion.
Background
• The starter phase now represents 24-36 % of
the production cycle of broiler chickens
• Nutrition during this period is not only useful
for development of digestive function but for
long term productivity
• Chicks could be provided with early nutrition
in a number of ways
• Which are the most sustainable procedures
and products?
Gut Development in Broiler Chickens
Natural development is a difficult concept
to define because of:
Variation in bird strains
Variation in ingredients
Environmental differences
Analytical procedures.
Comprehensive study on the Steggles x
Ross (Iji, 1998, 2001) 
• Several studies have shown that supply
organs develop more rapidly in the stater
period than the other organs or body:
At hatch
5d
10d
24d
Body weight
Small intestine
Pancreas
46.6
1.53
0.11
110.0
5.65
0.50
306.0
8.3
0.46
1384.0
4.9
0.23
Bursa
0.05
0.16
0.16
0.15
UNE Database
Morphology of intestinal mucosa
at different sites and ages.
DUODENUM
JEJUNUM
ILEUM
Hatch
Day 21
Scale bar: 1000 mm
Iji et al. (2001b)
Cell proliferation also occurs
outside the crypt
1 hour
96 hours
Bromodeoxyuridine was administered at 1 day of age. Similar tests were
conducted on days 7, 14 and 21.
Iji et al. (2001a)
Biochemical indices of mucosal
growth
At hatch
DNA content (mg/g tissue; cell population)
Duodenum
3.6a
Jejunum
1.7a
21d
0.4b
1.0b
Ileum
2.9a
Protein:DNA ratio (cell size)
0.9b
9.9b
15.5b
10.7b
78.7a
71.4a
29.4a
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
a,b – Comparisons within the same row.
Iji et al. (2001a)
Early Nutrition and its Benefits
Hatchery practices
• Chicks hatch over a wide time window
• Initial dependence on yolk sac for nutrients
• Weight losses occur and intestinal development may
be hampered
• Would chicks benefit from early access to feed?
• How should such feed be delivered?
Weight loss of unfed chicks
post-hatch
Careghi et al. (2005)
Effect of feed restriction and glucose
supplementation on weight and FCR
of broiler chickens
14d
35d
Weight (g) FCR Weight (g)
FCR
Fed at hatch
370a
1.37a
1732
1.67
Fed + Glucose
368a
1.34a
1849
1.66
Water/No Feed
349b
1.33a
1657
1.68
No Water/No Feed
343b
1.25b
1756
1.64
a,b – Significantly different (P<0.001) on the same column.
Restriction was for 36h.
Ao (2004)
Villus height and crypt depth at the
jejunum of held vs immediate fed
chicks
Villus height
Crypt depth
b
b
150
100
50
Crypt depth (mm)
Villus height (mm)
a
200
a
50
b
40
b
30
20
10
0
0
0
18
36
Duration of fasting (h)
0
18
36
Duration of fasting (h)
a,b – Significantly different (P<0.05)
Gonzales et al. (2003)
Early feeding programmes
• Programmes could be egg-based or posthatch
o In ovo administration of nutrients
o Intubation (gavage) of liquid-based nutrients
o Delivery via drinking water
o Supplementation with solid feed
o Hatching on site (Patio system).
Nutrient
In ovo feeding
Effect of in ovo administration of
carbohydrates on body weight
Age (days)
Control
In ovo
% Difference
Hatch
48.9b
52.6a
+7.6
3
69.3b
74.8a
+7.9
7
129.0b
134.6a
+4.3
10
156.3b
161.7a
+3.5
35
1523.0b
1591.0a
+4.5
a, b – Significantly different (P<0.05) on the same row.
Uni et al. (2004)
Response to in ovo administration of
amino acids
Control
Lys+Arg
Wt (wk 1, g)
72.6b
74.7b
Wt (wk3, g) BWG (0-3 wk)
241.2
197.5
264.0
219.6
Lys+Met+Cys
78.9ab
273.6
228.1
Thr+Gly+Ser
81.6a
271.0
223.8
Ile+Leu+Val
87.8a
304.8
256.6
Gly+Pro
78.8ab
304.4
257.9
a, b – Significantly different (P<0.05) on the same column.
Bhanja & Mandal (2005)
Activities of pancreatic enzymes in
response to in ovo administration of
threonine
Pepsin
5.25
5.15
Amylase
57.90
58.59
Trypsin
0.23
0.21
10
6.50
67.76
0.26
20
6.81
71.34
0.29
30
6.11
70.20
0.28
40
5.30
61.75
0.30
Control
Sham (H2O)
Threonine
(mg)
Kadam et al. (2008)
Effect of in ovo administration of
carbohydrates on jejunal villus height
Control
Villus height (m m)
500
In-ovo fed
400
*
*
*
300
200
100
0
18
19
20
21-Hatch
Days of incubation
* – Significantly different (P<0.05) for the same age.
Uni et al. (2004)
Hatchability (%) and hatching
weight (g) in response to in ovo
administration of betaine
a
b
a, bMean
b
a
a
a
with unlike superscripts are significantly different (P<0.001).
Kadam al. (2013)
Progress with in ovo nutrition
• Slow adoption
– Hatchability issues?
• Identification of new products
– Range of products tested vis-à-vis response
• Alternative post-hatch programmes.
Early Post-hatch Access to Nutrients
Response to early access to feed
on site
Effect of delayed feeding or early access to
carbohydrate supplementation on broiler chickens
Control1
Palatinose2
Trehalose2
Held3
Fed4
Held3
Fed4
Held3
Fed4
SEM
1-21 days
Feed intake
819.3b
851.1b
869.8b
853.5b
1012.2a
1053.0a
16.96***
21d-wt
619.2b
670.1b
665.8b
668.2b
735.7a
784.8a
10.77***
1.43
1.38
1.40
1.38
1.46
1.44
0.01
FCR
1 Commercial
diet; 2 Fed at 1 % of diet; 3 Feed was delayed for 36h; 4 Fed
within 8 hours of hatch.
Bhuiyan et al. (2007)
Effect of delayed feeding or early access to
carbohydrate supplementation on
nutrient digestibility
Control1
Palatinose2
Trehalose2
Held3
Fed4
Held
Fed
Held
Fed
SEM
Gross
energy
Protein
0.69
0.69
0.70
0.73
0.69
0.71
0.006
0.81
0.80
0.83
0.83
0.82
0.83
0.004
Starch
0.86
0.87
0.88
0.88
0.90
0.90
0.007
1 Commercial
diet; 2 Fed at 1 % of diet; 3 Feed was delayed for 36h; 4 Fed within
8 hours of hatch.
Bhuiyan et al. (2007)
Patio hatchers: Commercial solution
to early access to feed?
Growth of broiler chickens hatched in a
patio system vs conventional hatchery
Van de Ven et al. (2012)
Substrates and ingredients used in early
feeding programmes
Carbohydrate sources
Feed intake and body weight of chicks
(14d) on different water-based
carbohydrate supplements
Feed intake
Body weight
Bhuiyan et al. (2011)
Activities of digestive enzymes of
chicks (14d) on different feed-based
carbohydrate supplements
Maltase
Sucrase
0.5 g/kg
1.0 g/kg
2.0 g/kg
0.5 g/kg
0.08
m mol/mg prot/min
m mol/mg prot/min
1
1.0 g/kg
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Control
0.5 g/kg
Palatinose
1.0 g/kg
Trehalose
2.0 g/kg
2.0 g/kg
a
0.06
0.04
b
bb
ab ab
b
0.02
0
Control
Palatinose
Trehalose
a,b – Significantly different (P<0.05).
nmol/mg prot/min
15
Chymotrypsin
12
9
6
3
0
Control
Palatinose
Trehalose
Bhuiyan et al. (2011)
Protein sources
• Animal vs plant proteins
• Animal products
o
o
o
o
o
Higher protein content
Better amino acid balance
Fewer concerns of toxic factors
Main concern is zoonotic diseases
Cost and supply in some regions
• Plant products
o Higher CP content than original source
o Poorer amino acid balance than animal products
o Lower levels of antinutritive factors than source products
35-d Body weight of broiler chicks in
response to spray-dried porcine plasma in
starter diets
Maize-based diets (35d)
2676.0ᵃ
Body weight (g)
2700
2608.7ᵃᵇ
2629.4ᵃᵇ
2544.4ᵇ
2600
2500
2400
2300
Control
5 g/kg SDPP
10 g/kg SDPP
Wheat-based diets (35d)
20 g/kg SDPP
2735.4ᵃ
Body weight (g)
2800
2700
2538.1ᵇ
2578.4ᵃᵇ
2567.9ᵇ
2600
2500
2400
2300
Control
5 g/kg SDPP
10 g/kg SDPP
20 g/kg SDPP
Beski et al. (2015)
FCR of broiler chicks on diets
supplemented with SDPP (1-35d)
FCR g/g
Maize-based diets
1,8
1,6
1,4
1,2
1,0
1.61ᵃ
1.2ᵃ
Control
1.58ᵃᵇ
1.13ᵇ
5 g/kg SDPP
1.52ᵇ
1.1ᵇ
10 g/kg
SDPP
1.53ᵇ
1.09ᵇ
20 g/kg
SDPP
FCR g/g
Wheat-based diets
1,8
1,6
1,4
1,2
1,0
1.64ᵃ
1.20ᵃ
Control
1.60ᵃ
1.12ᵇ
5 g/kg SDPP
1.56ᵃ
1.07ᶜ
10 g/kg
SDPP
d 10
d 35
d 10
d 35
1.46ᵇ
1.07ᶜ
20 g/kg
SDPP
Beski et al. (2015)
Jejunal villus height (at 24d) of broiler
chicks on diets supplemented with SDPP
2100
2017.4ᵃ
2000
Villus height (µm)
1900
1881.7ᵇ
1929.4ᵃᵇ
1980.5ᵃ
1800
1700
1600
Control
5 g/kg SDPP
10 g/kg SDPP
20 g/kg SDPP
2100
2000
1976.1ᵃ
1915.4ᵃ
1900
1917.1ᵃ
1840.5ᵃ
1800
1700
1600
Control
5 g/kg SDPP
10 g/kg SDPP
20 g/kg SDPP
Beski et al. (2015)
Other responses to starter levels of SDPP
• The digestibility of protein, gross energy and
dry matter was largely similar at 24 of age with
both grain types.
• Dressing % was increased about 2.5%.
Performance of broiler chickens in
response to different protein fractions
from meat and bone meal (1-28d)
Feed intake Body wt. gain
(g/bird)
(g/bird)
Control – No handling
1104.4
630.9
FCR
(g/g)
1.75
Control – PBS
1135.9
638.1
1.78
Control – handled
1139.8
659.9
1.73
Fraction 1, <3 kDa
1191.1
680.1
1.76
Fraction 2, 3-100 kDa
1150.7
679.5
1.70
Fraction 4, >100 kDa
1067.7
607.4
1.76
Fractions contained different proportions of structural, metabolic, enzyme, milk,
blood and immune proteins.
Muir et al. (2013)
Proprietary Products
Oasis®
Oasis in-tray application (about 250 g per 100
chicks or 2.5 g per chick)
Performance of broiler chickens at
market age following maintenance on
Oasis
Held
Feed
Oasis
solid
Water
Oasis
liquid
Noy & Sklan (1999)
FI and BW of broilers to starter levels of
HP AviStart at 35d
Beski et al. (2015)
FCR of broilers to starter levels of HPA
at 1-10d and 1-35d
Beski et al. (2015)
Jejunal histomorphology (µm) of broiler
chickens (24d) in response to HPA
HPA levels (g/kg diet)
0
Villus height 1619.1c
25
1691.5bc
50
1816.8a
100
1759.0ab
Crypt depth
144.3a
139.9ab
131.0b
129.7b
Villus/crypt
12.0b
11.8b
14.0a
11.3a
Villus SA1
0.59
0.68
0.72
0.64
1. Apparent villus surface area (mm2)
Beski et al. (2015)
Mucosal protein content and enzyme activities
of broiler chickens (24d) in response to HPA
HPA levels (g/kg diet)
Jejunum
0
25
50
100
Protein
18.4
19.1
19.4
18.9
Maltase
2.2
2.4
2.1
2.5
Sucrase
0.18
0.17
0.16
0.17
Alk. Phos.
0.102
0.099
0.094
0.109
50.6
53.2
53.1
47.9
Chymotrypsin
3.2ab
3.0b
3.2ab
4.0a
Lipase
0.64
0.63
0.60
0.75
Pancreas Protein
Protein (mg/g tissue); Enzymes (mol/mg protein/minute)
Beski et al. (2015)
Ileal nutrient digestibility of broilers
(24d) in response to HPA
HPA levels (g/kg diet)
0
25
50
100
Protein
0.74
0.77
0.79
0.78
Gross energy
0.69
0.72
0.74
0.73
DM
0.84
0.85
0.83
0.84
Beski et al. (2015)
Carcass characteristics (g) of broilers
(35d) in response to HPA
HPA levels (g/kg diet)
Dressing%
0
75.6
25
75.9
50
76.5
100
77.1
Breast
655.2
638.2
703.7
694.4
Thigh
Drumstick
294.6
235.0
299.4
231.4
330.4
248.5
323.1
240.7
Beski et al. (2015)
Other Nutritional Interventions
Colour of pre-starter diets and
performance of broiler chickens
Body weight, day 3
Control
74.5
Red
76.5
FCR, 0-3d
0.86
0.90
Final weight, 42d
2019
2059
FCR, 0-42d
1.74
1.74
Enting et al. (2009)
Particle size of pre-starter diets and
performance of broiler chickens
Body weight, day 7
Crumble
145b
2 mm pellet
156a
Feed intake, 0-7d (g/day)
17.9
18.1
FCR, 0-7d
1.19a
1.09b
Final weight, 42d
2028b
2066a
Feed intake, 0-42d
80.9
82.0
FCR, 0-42d
1.74
1.74
Enting et al. (2009)
Conclusion
• Our knowledge of digestive physiology of
modern strains
• Scope for adopting existing applications
• Development of future applications
• Role of suitable products for pre-starter
diets.
Acknowledgment
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•
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RIRDC (Australia)
Feedworks (Australia)
Hamlet Protein
Post-docs and PhD students
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Dr Momen Bhuiyan
Dr Seng Huan Chee
Sleman Beski
Apeh Omede
Some Poultry Group Members,
UNE, 2013