Back to Search Start Over

The Hatching Time of Broiler Chickens Modifies Not Only the Production Traits but Also the Early Bacteriota Development of the Ceca

Authors :
Nikoletta Such
Kornél Schermann
László Pál
László Menyhárt
Valéria Farkas
Gábor Csitári
Brigitta Kiss
Kesete Goitom Tewelde
Károly Dublecz
Source :
Animals, Vol 13, Iss 17, p 2712 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

This trial was carried out to find out the effects of the parent flock and hatching time of broiler chickens on the production traits and bacteriota development of animals. Two sets of 730 hatching eggs were collected from two different parent flocks with ages of 25 and 50 weeks. In the hatchery, both groups were divided into two subgroups: those hatched during the first 10 and the subsequent 10 h of the hatching window. A feeding trial was carried out afterwards, using the four treatments in six replicate floor pens and feeding commercial starter, grower, and finisher diets that contained all the nutrients according to the breeder’s recommendations. The day-old chickens of the older parent flock and those hatched later were heavier, and this advantage remained until the end of the production period. The different ages and origins of the parent flocks failed to modify the microbiological parameters of the chicken’s ceca; however, the hatching time significantly influenced the different bacteriota diversity indices: the late-hatched chickens showed higher Bacteroidetes and lower Firmicutes and Actinobacteria abundances at day 11. These treatments resulted in differences in the main families, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. These differences could not be found at day 39.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20762615 and 06054080
Volume :
13
Issue :
17
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Animals
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.06d4603f06054080a06786ca7f203224
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172712