In poultry farms, early feeding is the availability of ad lib feed and water for day old chicks from the time of hatching of eggs.
Early feeding has a positive effect on the performance of chicks because the development and maturation of important organs is not hampered after hatching, but continues. This results in better growth performance and better health status of chickens.
Video Early feeding
The benefits of early feeding
Since the early 1990s, many studies have demonstrated the benefits of early feeding and water on chicks performance. In this paragraph, several studies are summarized to show the benefits of feeding and water early on.
During the last few days of incubation, the remaining egg yolk is drawn into the body cavity as an extension of the intestine. After hatching, the remaining egg yolks are the only source of chicken nutrition until exogenous feed is available. Chickens can use leftover egg yolk for maintenance during the first few days after hatching. However, studies have shown that the development and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, and related immune-related organs are delayed in chickens that have to rely only on their residual yolks and have no feed and water available between hatching and placement on the farm.
A study of Noy et al. (1996) showed that the remaining chicken eggs with access to feed for 96 hours after hatch decreased faster in size than in fasting birds. This can be due to increased intestinal activity in the fed chicken. A faster decline in the size of the remaining egg yolk suggests that precious nutrients were previously used for important developmental steps.
Geyra et al. (2001) showed that post-hatch fasting retarded weight gain and intestinal growth. The effects of fasting are specific to both fasting times and intestinal segments examined (duodenum, jejunum or ileum). Jejunum seems to be the most sensitive of the intestinal segment. Fasting between 0 and 48 h post hatch reduces crypt size, number of crypts per villus, crypt proliferation, villus area, and cell migration rate of enterocyte (duodenum and jejunum). Geyra et al. (2001) concluded that early access to feeding is essential for optimal early gut development.
Maiorka et al. (2003) also shows that the development of the gastrointestinal tract is directly related to feed and water intake. They show that the relative weight and length of the jejunum and ileum increases when the chicken is supplied with feed and water after hatching. In addition, intestinal mucosal development is affected by the availability of feed and water: the number of villi per area decreases as villi size increases. According to these findings Maiorka et al. (2003) hypothesize that the absence of physical stimulation caused by feeding in the intestinal lumen and the specific needs for certain nutrients, such as water, may be responsible for negative changes in the morphology of the intestinal mucosa.
The protein in the remaining yolk is the source of antibodies from the chicken. To be effective, it is important that maternal antibodies move from the remaining egg yolk to the bloodstream but also to places of vulnerability such as the mucosal surfaces where bacteria and viruses can enter the body. Dibner et al. (1998) evaluated the effects of early feeding on immune system development in broiler chickens. They showed that providing immediate post hatch nutrients resulted in heavier weight of bursa, previous appearance of biliary IgA and germ center (secondary lymphoid organ), and increased resistance to disease challenge. In broiler chickens the first week of life is not only important for the further development of the digestive tract and the immune-related organs are important but it is also an important period for muscle production. Halevy et al. (2000) shows that the length and time of post hatching fasting affect the activity of satellite cells. Short-term fasts can increase the number of satellite cells. However, long-term fastness almost completely captures cell mitosis and lowers the number of satellite cells. In the study of Halevy et al., (2000) fasting chickens during the first days of life did not regain their weight or weight of their breast muscles on day 41, but the fasting cock between day 4 and 6 post-hatch experienced full growth. compensation on the 41st day. Halevy et al. (2000) concluded that sufficient feed immediately after hatching may be essential for later muscle development. A study of Noy and Sklan (1999) also showed that early feeding increased weight and breast size at the age of marketing in chickens and chicks. They show that early feeding reduces the mortality rate numerically.
Maps Early feeding
See also
- Poultry
- Wageningen University and Research Center
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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