Effect of match or mismatch of maternal–offspring nutritional environment on the development of offspring in broiler chickens

Abstract

In mammals, maternal food restriction around conception and during pregnancy results in low birth weight and an adjusted growth trajectory of offspring. If, subsequently, the offspring are born into a food-abundant environment, they are at increased risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and renal dysfunction. Here, we show similar effects of maternal undernutrition on hatch weight, growth and fat deposition in offspring of birds (domestic chicken). Both mothers and offspring were fed either ad libitum or restricted in a two-by-two factorial design, resulting in two matched and two mismatched maternal-offspring nutritional environments. Offspring of ad libitum mothers grew heavier than those of restricted mothers, possibly due to the larger muscle mass. Ad libitum-fed offspring, especially females, of restricted mothers were lighter at hatch, and were heavier and had more abdominal fat at 6 weeks of age than daughters of ad libitum-fed mothers. These results suggest a common mechanism in mammals and birds in response to a mismatch in the maternal-offspring nutritional environment. They also indicate that the common practice of restrictive feeding of the broiler breeders and subsequent ad libitum feeding of the broilers may result in reduced growth and increased abdominal fat as compared to broilers of less restricted broiler breeders.

Immediate and transgenerational effects of thymol supplementation, inactivated Salmonella and chronic heat stress on representative immune variables of Japanese quail

“…Considering that the transgenerational or maternal effects are signaling and programming the offspring to develop their daily activities in a similar environment where the adult generation was raised, potential similarities and differences between the pre-natal and post-natal environment might be influencing the offspring 38 , 68 . Previous research in this field has found that an environmental mis-match, in terms of increased levels of CORT and different access to food, between the environment where the parental generation was raised and the environment where the offspring was raised impacted on growth, physiology and development of the offspring 38 , 68 . However, further trials are needed in this line to explore and better understand the phenomenon under study and their potential implications considering the environmental factors used in our study.…”

Broiler breeding flocks: management and animal welfare

“…They observed that the diet of 8.4 MJ/kg had some positive effects on the behaviour during the first half of the rearing period (decreased prevalence of stereotypic object pecking), but not during the second half of the rearing period, and even seemed to increase stress during the production period (indicated by a higher heterophil:lymphocyte ratio in the blood in the production period). and Tolkamp et al (2005) fed broiler breeders ad libitum with diets diluted with oat hulls but in addition used an appetite suppressant (400 g/kg oat hulls or 400 g/kg oat hulls and 24-110 g/kg calcium propionate added to the standard diet, depending on bird's age) or used calcium propionate in combination with low protein content and provided these diets ad libitum (150 g/kg crude protein vs 200 g/kg crude protein in the standard diet vs diets diluted with oat hulls or oat hulls in combination with calcium propionate (Sandilands et al, 2006)). Stereotypic pecking was virtually absent, time spent sitting significantly increased and feeding motivation was reduced when applying diets diluted with oat hulls and including an appetite suppressant, indicating that welfare of broiler breeders during the rearing period might be improved Tolkamp et al, 2005).…”

“…and Tolkamp et al (2005) fed broiler breeders ad libitum with diets diluted with oat hulls but in addition used an appetite suppressant (400 g/kg oat hulls or 400 g/kg oat hulls and 24-110 g/kg calcium propionate added to the standard diet, depending on bird's age) or used calcium propionate in combination with low protein content and provided these diets ad libitum (150 g/kg crude protein vs 200 g/kg crude protein in the standard diet vs diets diluted with oat hulls or oat hulls in combination with calcium propionate (Sandilands et al, 2006)). Stereotypic pecking was virtually absent, time spent sitting significantly increased and feeding motivation was reduced when applying diets diluted with oat hulls and including an appetite suppressant, indicating that welfare of broiler breeders during the rearing period might be improved Tolkamp et al, 2005). The same effects on behaviour during the rearing period were found when appetite suppressants were used in combination with low protein diets (Sandilands et al, 2006).…”

Maternal energy restriction by low starch or fat affects carcase trait, meat quality and muscle antioxidative properties in Arbor Acres broilers

“…Maternal nutrition may alter the nutrient supply to the foetus and thereby affect the foetal production of growth factors and finally affect nutrient availability to the foetus (Rehfeldt et al 2004). Maternal nutrition restriction had a negative influence on the offspring's body weight at 6 weeks of age (Van der Waaij et al 2011). Female offspring of female broilers with the low crude protein intake had lighter weight than female offspring of female broilers with high crude protein during 22-36 d of age (Moraes et al 2014).…”