Evaluation of chick quality: which method do you choose?

Roos Molenaar M.Sc

In practice, a good chick quality is crucial to optimize performance. As the growth rate of broilers as been increased over the years, the length of the production cycle is decreased. Chicks with a poor quality start slowly in the field. With the reduced length of the production cycle, it is more difficult to compensate for a slow start. Modern strains of both layers and broilers are selected for a high level of genetic potential and relatively small imbalances in chick quality can have a major impact on subsequent performance.

Chick quality can be defined as chicks that are optimal developed during incubation and show a good performance such as daily growth, breast meat yield, eggs or livability in the field. Evaluating chick quality detects problems and improves profits in hatcheries and integrated companies and should be included in a standard quality analysis procedure. Chick quality can be measured by several methods. Choosing the right method depends on the goal of the evaluation and the available time. Sample size, accuracy and the required time for the various methods is not equal.

The most common used methods to evaluate chick quality are:

1. Visual scoring
2. Body weight
3. Yolk free body mass (=YFBM)
4. Chick length
5. Yield
6. Scoring systems like Tona or Pasgar score

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