Influence of post-hatch starvation on broiler chick’s productivity

The effect of post hatch starvation on growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and nutrient digestibility coefficient was evaluated in broiler chicks.One hundred and eighty "Sayed" day-old broiler chickens were placed in six treatments with three replications of 10 chickens each.The experiment was arranged in a complete random design (CRD) at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours delay access to feed as treatments.Birds subjected to fasting at 12, 24 and 36h showed no significant (P>0.05)differences in body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios.Body weight increased significantly (P<0.05) at 12, 24 and 36h compared with those at 48, 60 and 72h delayed access to feed.At 7 days of age, the nutrient digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ash and nitrogen free extracts (NFE) was significantly (p<0.05)better at 12, 24 and 36h compared with those at 48, 60 and 72h.At 28 day of age, the results of the digestibility coefficient of birds at 12, 24 and 36h feed holding period was similar (p>0.05) for DM, CP and CF but significantly (P<0.05)differed from those on 48, 60 and 72h.The EE, ash and NFE were similar (P>0.05)across the treatments with improved values in birds with decreasing starved period.The results of this study revealed that delayed access to feed has adverse effects on broiler performance.It recommended that a source of energy in the hatching basket or during transportation be provided to chicks to reduce starvation.