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

The effects of hatch window and hatching basket nutrient availability on organ weights, performance, and processing yield of broilers were investigated. Eggs were hatched in illuminated hatchers. At the end of each hatch window period (HWP), hatched chicks were placed into control (CTL) hatching baskets with no nutrients or baskets providing access to feed and water (FAW). This resulted in 6 treatments in a factorial arrangement of 3 HWP (early, middle, or late) and 2 basket types (CTL or FAW). Chicks remained in experimental baskets until 504 h and were then subjected to a 4 h holding period at the hatchery without nutrient access. Subsequently, 1,500 hatched chicks were reared in floor pens for 42 d with 5 replicate pens per treatment. Common diets and water were provided ad libitum. Bird weights and feed consumption were recorded weekly. Individual bird weights were taken at 21 and 42 d. At 43 d, 14 males from each pen were processed. There was an interaction between HWP and basket type on placement BW (P = 0.028) and BW change in the hatcher (P < 0.001). The HWP influenced BW at hatch (P = 0.007), 7 d (P < 0.001), and 14 d (P < 0.001) and FI at 7 d (P < 0.001) and 14 d (P = 0.002). Chicks from FAW baskets were heavier (P < 0.001) than those from CTL baskets at 7 d; afterward, they were similar (P > 0.05) in BW. Yolk and liver weights were similar (P > 0.05) between basket treatments at 3 d posthatch. No differences (P > 0.05) in FCR, mortality, or processing were observed between basket treatments. Interestingly, early hatching chicks were lightest at hatch but subsequently had higher FI and BWG. These findings indicate that hatcher nutrient access may reduce weight loss in the hatcher, especially for early hatching chicks, but had no influence on subsequent performance or processing yields beyond 7 d.

Effects of Hatch Window and Nutrient Access in the Hatcher on Performance and Processing Yields of Broilers Reared with Equal Hatch Window Representation.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of feed and water availability in hatching baskets on broiler performance, processing yield, and organ weights while considering the influence of hatch window. Cobb 500 eggs were transferred into illuminated hatchers with two hatching basket types [control (CTL) hatching baskets with no nutrients provided or baskets containing feed and water (FAW)]. Chicks were pulled sequentially to establish four hatch window periods (HWP): early, pre-peak, post-peak, or late. Chicks were then held for 4 h at the hatchery without nutrient access and subsequently reared in 26 floor pens designated as CTL (n = 13) or FAW (n = 13), with 13 chicks from each of the 4 HWP per pen (52 chicks per pen). At 43 d, 16 males from each pen were processed. Chicks from FAW baskets were 1 g heavier (p < 0.001) than those from CTL baskets at placement and were heavier through 28 d (p = 0.003) but similar (p > 0.05) in body weight (BW) for the remainder of the 42 d. No differences (p > 0.05) in feed conversion ratio, mortality, or processing data were observed between CTL and FAW groups. Early-hatching chicks were lighter (p < 0.001) than those from all other HWP at placement, but were only lighter (p < 0.001) than the post-peak group by 42 d. In summary, it was found that hatching basket nutrient access increased the BW of broilers during the first 4 wk of growth, with no other effects on performance or yield. Also, earlier-hatching chicks were generally able to compensate for a lighter placement BW.

Determination of serum ionized calcium concentration in dairy cattle after frozen anaerobic storage.

The stability of serum ionized calcium concentration (ICa) from dairy cows was studied after anaerobic collection and frozen storage. Paired blood samples were obtained from five groups of cows: nonlactating, first third of lactation, midlactation, last third of lactation, and 2-year-old nonlactating heifers. Vacutainer multiple sample needles and serum separator tubes (SST) were used for venipuncture. Aspiration of serum was within 1.5 hours after collection: one sample for immediate determination (within 2 hours of collection); the other sample stored at -4 degrees C in evacuated plastic vacutainer tubes filled with serum to provide dead space of less than 75% of volume, and analyzed after 14 to 30 days in storage (half, 15, of the samples from each lactation group were analyzed after frozen anaerobic storage at 14 or 30 days, respectively). Processing samples in this manner significantly altered the values obtained for ICa, normalized calcium concentration (NCa), and pH. Analysis after frozen storage in evacuated tubes caused ICa and NCa concentrations to decrease and pH to increase (P< 0.05); total calcium levels were not significantly different from initial values. There were no significant differences among lactation groups. The difference between values obtained from these paired samples was either due to loss of CO(2) during transfer from the SST to the evacuated tube or during frozen storage. Changes in samples assayed after freezing and storage could be adjusted to original values by using the mean difference between the fresh and frozen levels as correction factors: ICa (+0.4379), NCa (+0.2797), and pH (-0.0926). It was concluded that immediate determination of serum ICa in dairy cattle is the ideal but using this methodology and performing analyses later may be acceptable if correction factors are determined.