Good start from early post hatch feed

Dr. Roos Molenaar M.Sc. and Dr. ir. Henry van den Brand

HatchTech Incubation Technology B.V., P.O. Box 256, 3900 AG Veenendaal, the Netherlands;
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.

Newly hatched chicks are very sensitive to environmental factors. Feed availability and ambient temperature are such factors. Recent research indicated that early post hatch feed and the composition on this feed positively affect early development and improve the hatchlings’ resistance against cold.

The production cycle of the broiler chicken has been decreased over the years and will probably decrease even more in the future.

The period immediately after hatch, when major developmental and physiological changes occur, becomes more and more important. A broiler chicken seems anatomically complete after hatch, but the digestive, immune, and thermoregulatory system needs further development and maturation. Early feed is essential for the development of the gastrointestinal tract and the growth of the bird, but it is largely unknown what the effect of early feed is on the development of the thermoregulatory system. Download the entire research article via the button below.