Day-old chicken quality and performance of broiler chickens from 3 different hatching systems

Abstract

In on-farm hatching systems, eggs are transported at d 18 of incubation to the broiler farm, where chickens have immediate access to feed and water after hatching. In hatchery-fed systems, newly hatched chickens have immediate access to feed and water in the hatchery and are transported to the farm thereafter. Conventionally hatched chickens can remain without access to feed and water up to 72 h after hatching until placement on the farm. The current study compared day-old chicken quality, performance, and slaughter yield of broiler chickens that were on-farm hatched ( OH ), hatchery-fed ( HF ), or conventionally hatchery-hatched ( HH ). The experiment was performed in 6 rooms in 1 house. Each room contained 2 duplicate pens with approximately 1,155 chickens per pen; 2 rooms with each 2 duplicate pens were assigned to 1 treatment. The experiment was repeated during 3 consecutive production cycles. Chickens originated from young parent stock flocks. Results showed that HF and OH chickens were heavier and longer than HH chickens at day ( D ) 1. Relative weight of stomach and intestines were highest for OH chickens. The OH chickens had worse day-old chicken quality in terms of navel condition and red hocks than HH and HF chickens. Treatments did not differ in first wk and total mortality. From D0 until slaughter age, body weight was highest for OH, followed by HF and HH. Furthermore, carcass weight at slaughter age (D40) was highest for OH chickens, followed by HF and HH chickens. Breast fillets showed a higher incidence of white striping and wooden breast in HF and OH chickens compared with HH chickens. In conclusion, the current study showed that both OH and HF chickens of young parent flocks had better growth performance, which could explain the higher prevalence of breast myopathies, compared with HH. The worse day-old chicken quality for OH compared with HH and HF does not seem to affect first wk mortality and later life performance.

Effects of hatching on-farm on performance and welfare of organic broilers

“…(2019) found no difference in hatchability when using the standard method for calculation for both treatments. The present study and Souza da Silva et al. (2021) found a similar result when second grade chicks were included as hatched chicks.…”

“…In line with other studies, a reduced chick quality was found for chicks hatched OF ( van de Ven et al., 2012 ; de Jong et al., 2019 , 2020 ). Souza da Silva et al. (2021) reported conflicting results as they found that OF hatched chicks had worse navel and hocks, but were longer, the latter being considered a positive chick quality indicator.…”

“…Further supporting this is that second grade chicks have poorer growth and slaughter weight than first grade chicks ( van de Ven et al., 2012 ), but we found no difference in slaughter weight between OF and HC chickens in the present study, which is in agreement with most previous studies ( van de Ven et al., 2011 ; de Jong et al., 2019 , 2020 ). Only Souza da Silva et al. (2021) report a difference in slaughter weight between chicks hatched either OF or at the hatchery, but with the OF hatched chicks weighing more.…”

Effects of hatch window and nutrient access in the hatcher on performance and processing yield of broiler chicks reared according to time of hatch

“…Several approaches to early feeding, including in ovo and hatcher feeding, have been investigated with varying degrees of success, as reviewed by multiple authors ( Noy and Sklan, 1999 ; Noy and Uni, 2010 ; Willemsen et al, 2010 ). Commercially, the ability to provide early nutrition to chicks is dictated by the particular hatching system being utilized, and both hatcher-feeding and on-farm hatching with immediate feed and water access may enhance broiler performance ( van de Ven et al, 2011 ; Souza da Silva et al, 2021 ). One method of early feeding is providing nutrients immediately posthatch in the hatching baskets or during transportation from the hatchery to the farm.…”

“…It has been shown that immediate access to feed improves growth and development during the first week posthatch, though compensatory growth of fasted and early hatching chicks often diminishes these early benefits ( Kidd et al, 2007 ; Lamot et al, 2014 ; Deines et al, 2021 ). Recently, Souza da Silva et al (2021) demonstrated potential for sustained benefits in BW, but not FCR, to 39 d posthatch when chicks were fed in the hatcher or hatched on farm, highlighting the need for additional research to better understand broiler responses to hatcher feeding.…”