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

Abstract

At present, broilers reach slaughter weight at a physiologically younger age and the embryonic developmental period as well as the first week after hatching represents a larger proportion (45%) of the whole life span. Thus, pre-hatch as well as the transitional post-hatch period must be achieved efficiently. It is known that body weight is increased three to four fold during the first week and considerable changes in gut, and muscle weight and morphology are observed. The post-hatch period is critical for the digestive tract because the system is switching itself from off to on. The first day after hatch is critical for the development of body systems in the chicken and certain types of manipulation must occur during the first days after hatch in order to achieve long-term effects. Meat-type broilers are capable of achieving 70 g/day until 40 days. This achievement requires emphasis on early phase nutrition (i.e. pre-starter diets). The use of pre-starter diets assumes that starter diets are somewhat inefficient in providing balanced nutrients. Early nutritional strategies offer the promise of sustaining progress in production efficiency and welfare of commercial poultry. In order to achieve broiler potential several unconventional changes must be made: supplying nutrients to the developing embryo before hatch, supplying feed within hatchery, developing highly digestible pre-starter diets. Integrate all of the above to create a continuous feeding process from several days prior to hatch, during hatch and till farm placement where first feed is provided.