The effect of reproduction phase of breeder hens, poult hatch time, and fatty acid supplementation of the breeder hen diet on livability, growth characteristics, and yolk and liver fatty acid composition in posthatch poults

摘要

In two experiments, posthatch (PH) performance and physiological traits were determined in poults hatching from breeder hen flocks in their 1st (1w) and 7th (7w) week of production. Within each week of production, characteristics of poults that hatched by 27 d, 9 h of incubation (EARLY), versus those of poults hatching between 27 d, 9 h and 28 d (LATE), were compared through 96 h PH. The breeder hen diet in Experiment 2 was supplemented with [omega]-3 fatty acids. In both experiments, livability through 10 d of age was greater for 7w poults compared with 1w poults. During the 1st wk of lay in Experiment 1, livability of EARLY poults (80%) was better than that of LATE poults (52%). Poults from hens in their 7th wk of lay were heavier (p \u3c.0001) than 1w poults at hatch and through 96 h PH. Liver wt, relative to BW, was heavier (p \u3c.05) at 24, 48, and 72 h PH in 7w poults. In Experiment 2, 7w poults retained a heavier (p \u3c.001) yolk sac membrane, relative to BW, at 24, 48, and 72 h PH. Resorption of the yolk sac membrane and yolk sac contents, relative to BW, was delayed in LATE hatch poults compared with EARLY hatch poults. Following access to feed, plasma uric acid concentration in 7w poults decreased at an earlier age as compared with 1w poults. In Experiment 2, [omega]-3 fatty acid supplementation of the breeder hen diet increased (p \u3c.01) the linolenic acid (C18:3,[omega]-3) content (g/100g tissue DM) of the egg yolk, and yolk sac contents and liver from hatch through 96h PH. Yolk lipid content (g/100g tissue DM) was greater (p \u3c.01) in 7w poults prior to feeding. Liver lipid content was higher (p \u3c.02) in 1w poults from hatch through 96h PH. Feeding breeder hens a high [omega]-3 fatty acid diet increased their subsequent incorporation in the yolk and liver of PH poults. Differences in poult growth as related to the age of the breeder hen may be related to physiological differences present prior to hatch. On the other hand, differences in growth between EARLY and LATE hatch poults may be related to a difference in poult maturity at the time of emergence from the shell.