Quality assessment chicks from different hatcher temperatures with different scoring methods and prediction of broiler growth performance

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the quality of chicks from different hatcher temperatures for the prediction of broiler growth performance. The hatcher temperatures were applied as follows: control (36.8–37.0°C), acute high hatcher temperature (38.8–39.0°C for 3 hours daily, 36.8–37.0°C in remaining time) and chronic high hatcher temperature (38.8–39.0°C). The chick quality was measured with Tona score, Pasgar score, chick-hatching weight, yolk-free chick weight and chick length. Whereas the chicks of control group were the highest quality with Tona and Pasgar methods, the chicks of the control and acute high temperature groups were better than the chronic high temperature group according to chick weight and yolk-free chick weight as chick quality indicators. Between days1 and 7, the relative growth was the highest in control group with a value of 373.0%. The correlations between chick weight on day 1 and Tona score, Pasgar score, chick weight, yolk-free chick weight and chick length were significant. The correlation between chick quality scoring methods and relative growth between days 1 and 7 was varied among the treatment groups. In conclusion, short- or long-term high hatcher temperatures affected one-day-old chick quality and first-week broiler growth performance.