Abstract
The effect of hatch location and diet density on the prevalence of footpad dermatitis and
growth performance in broiler chickenswas studied.Broilers (Ross 308), incubated at 2 different
hatch locations but originating from the same parent stock,were subjected to 2 feeding programs
differing in energy content (2,750 vs. 2,950, 2,850 vs. 3,050, 2,900 vs. 3,100, and 2,900 vs.
3,100 kcal/kg for starter, grower I, grower II, and finisher diets, respectively) in a 2 × 2 factorial
design (6 replicates per treatment combination). Broilers were housed under conditions and
managed according to Dutch practice. Hatch location did not affect hatching results nor the
prevalence and severity of footpad dermatitis, but did affect BW gain, feed, and water intake.
A significant interaction was found between hatch location and feeding program; broilers fed
the low-energy (LE) program had a better performance when hatched at Location 2 than at
Location 1, whereas performance was similar for the high-energy (HE) broilers hatched at both
locations. Broilers fed the LE program had similar BWgain but a higher feed conversion due to
a higher feed intake as compared to broilers fed the HE program. In addition, moisture content
of the litter in the pens with LE birds was higher than in pens with HE birds. As a result, broilers
fed the LE program had more footpad dermatitis and hock burns at d 36 as compared to broilers
fed the HE program. It is concluded that the HE feeding program is preferred to prevent footpad
dermatitis and hock burn, and with respect to growth performance. The differences in growth
performance between the 2 hatch locations merit further study but indicate the importance
of the incubation and hatching environment and posthatch handling in relation to the growth
performance of broilers on-farm.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 105-114 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Poultry Research |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Broiler
- Diet density
- Footpad dermatitis
- Hatch location
- Performance