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Effect of Sucrose in the Initial Drinking Water of Broiler Chicks on Mortality and Growth
Effect of Sucrose in the Initial Drinking Water of Broiler Chicks on Mortality and Growth J. L. McNAUGHTON, J. W. DEATON and F. N. REECE U.S. Department of Agriculture, A.R.S., South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 (Received for publication November 9, 1977)
INTRODUCTION M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) found t h a t age of parents and hatching egg weight influenced broiler chick m o r t a l i t y . Chicks h a t c h e d from eggs laid by 29-week-old breeders had a significantly higher m o r t a l i t y from their offsprings than chicks from eggs laid b y 58-week-old breeders. Skoglund et al. ( 1 9 5 2 ) found t h a t chicks from eggs weighing less t h a n 5 0 g will n o t grow into as profitable broilers as chicks from larger eggs because of high m o r t a l i t y and lower weight of broilers h a t c h e d from small eggs. T h e y further stated, however, t h a t in periods of egg scarcity, t h e smaller eggs can be used, particularly if b o t h unfavorable shipping and early brooding c o n d i t i o n s can be avoided. T h e broiler industry is currently hatching t h e total collection of hatching eggs w i t h o u t regard t o egg weights. Therefore, a t t e m p t s were m a d e at this station to reduce m o r t a l i t y of broilers h a t c h e d from egg weight groups normally found t o have high m o r t a l i t y .
differences were n o t significant a m o n g g r o u p s fed sucrose water and tap water. H o u p t ( 1 9 5 8 ) observed that t h e n e w b o r n animal is characterized b y p r o f o u n d physiological changes as it adapts to its n e w and m o r e variable e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e m o s t critical change being n e w nutritional sources. T h e egg serves as a r e a d i l y available energy source for t h e growing e m b r y o during e m b r y o n i c developm e n t . However, w h e n chicks h a t c h , this energy source is partially eliminated. Only t h e functional y o l k sac and limited available dietary c a r b o h y d r a t e s serve as energy sources for t h e newly h a t c h e d chick. G r a h a m et al. ( 1 9 4 1 ) found glucose t o be t h e m o s t critical substance in t h e starvation d e a t h of n e w b o r n pigs. H y p o glycemic states occur quickly in pigs ( H a n a w a l t and S a m p s o n , 1 9 4 7 ) , lambs ( S a m p s o n et al, 1 9 5 5 ) , calves ( G o o d w i n , 1 9 5 7 ) , and broiler chicks ( H o u p t , 1 9 5 8 ) . Therefore, it seems logical t h e first n u t r i e n t required by t h e chick after birth is an available energy source.
T h a x t o n and Parkhurst ( 1 9 7 6 ) suggested t h a t h y d r a t i o n a c c o m p a n i e d b y a readily available energy substrate favor metabolism t h a t results in broiler g r o w t h . These researchers found t h a t broiler chicks t h a t received a sucrose s o l u t i o n (10% solution) before t h e y were placed on feed showed larger b o d y weights and lower feed conversion ratios t h a n t h e chicks t h a t received only water before feed. However,
T h e broiler industry in t h e S o u t h e r n United States is currently using hatching eggs from breeders t h a t are 26 t o 65 weeks old. Because M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) f o u n d m o r t a l i t y t o be as high as 6% w h e n chicks were h a t c h e d from 29-week-old breeder eggs weighing 4 7 - 5 4 g, research was c o n d u c t e d t o reduce t h e high m o r t a l i t y normally f o u n d in t h e offspring of y o u n g breeders. Therefore, the objective of this
1978 Poultry Sci 57:985-988
985
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
ABSTRACT Commercial poultry companies in the Southeastern United States have experienced high mortality when chicks are hatched from eggs laid by young breeding flocks. Hatching eggs weighing 47-54 g from 28-week-old breeders were collected on the farm, hatched in a commercial hatchery, and housed in a typical environment-controlled broiler house. A total of 7600 mixed-sex broilers was used in two experiments to determine the effect of adding sucrose to the drinking water on broiler chick mortality and growth. In each experiment, four groups of 950 broilers each were offered either an 8% sucrose solution or tap water, with or without feed, for the first 15 hr after housing. Broiler chick mortality was reduced from an average of 4.60% for the group of birds not receiving the sucrose treatments to 2.90% for die groups receiving the sucrose treatments. Presence or absence of feed during the first 15 hr of housing had no effect on mortality. Body weights were unaffected by dietary treatments. Thus, sucrose added to the initial drinking water of broiler chicks successfully reduced mortality of broilers without sacrificing market body weights.
McHAUGHTON ET AL.
986
TABLE 1.—Frequency distribution of hutching eggs from 28-week-old breeders Percent of total
43-44 45-46 47-48 49-50 51-52 53-54 55-56 57-58 Total
2.05 4.79 16.44 a 20.55 a 34.25 a 12.33 a 6.85 2.74 100.00
, Tindell a n d Morris ( 1 9 6 4 ) f o u n d t h a t chicks h a t c h e d from various egg weight groups a n d intermingled t e n d e d t o have greater m o r t a l i t y t h a n chicks h a t c h e d from t h e same egg weight groups b u t p e n n e d separately. T h e p o u l t r y industry is c u r r e n t l y feeding birds in o p e n - t y p e houses, so all test groups in this s t u d y were intermingled. Chicks were toe-clipped at t i m e of housing for identification.
Group of eggs selected for hatching.
s t u d y was t o d e t e r m i n e t h e effectiveness in reducing m o r t a l i t y b y adding sucrose t o t h e chick's drinking water for t h e first 15 hr after housing.
All broiler chicks were d e b e a k e d and t h e n vaccinated for Newcastle disease and bronchitis at t h e h a t c h e r y . All chicks were given G u m b o r o vaccine a t 8 days of age. In each e x p e r i m e n t , after all chicks were h o u s e d , t w o g r o u p s of 9 5 0 birds were given an 8% sucrose solution (weight-weight basis) b y f o u n t a i n - t y p e waters for 15 hr with and witho u t feed. T w o groups of 9 5 0 birds were also given n o r m a l tap water b y f o u n t a i n - t y p e waterers for 15 hr with and w i t h o u t feed. Eight 4-liter waterers were provided per 9 5 0 birds. After 15 hr, all 3 8 0 0 birds were given feed a n d water in b o x feeder lids and 2.4-m long waterers. After 3 days, t h e birds were fed from t u b e - t y p e feeders. Starter and finisher diets used were t h e same as those r e p o r t e d b y M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) .
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Two e x p e r i m e n t s were c o n d u c t e d t o determine t h e effectiveness of adding sucrose t o t h e drinking water of chicks for t h e first 15 hr after housing. In each e x p e r i m e n t , 3 8 0 0 mixed-sex broilers (Ross X A r b o r Acre) were housed in an e n v i r o n m e n t - c o n t r o l l e d broiler h o u s e . Solar heat as t h e energy source and partial-house b r o o d i n g t e c h n i q u e s developed b y Reece ( 1 9 7 7 ) were used. Space allowances were .02 m 2 / b i r d from 1 t o 14 d a y s , .04 m 2 / b i r d from 14 to 2 8 days, and .08 m 2 / b i r d from 28 t o 53 • days of age. Hatching eggs collected from 28-week-old breeders were weighed individually and eggs weighing 47—54 g were separated for hatching.
TABLE 2.—Mortality of broilers with and without sucrose in the initial drinking water Mortality Experiment 21
Experiment 1 Treatment
No.
%
No.
%
Mean, %
Tap water + feed Tap water — feed Sucrose solution + feed Sucrose solution -• feed
38/950 d 37/950 29/950 24/950
4.00 i 3.89 2.42 2.53
49/950 51/950 32/950 31/950
5.16 5.37 3.37 3.26
4.58 b 4.63b 2.90 a 2.90 a
a,b Means within a column and without a common superscript are significantly different (P<.05). Tap water or an 8% sucrose solution was given for the first 15 hr after housing with and without feed. Total number of birds dead/total number started on test.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
Egg weight groups (g)
Eggs from 28-week-old breeders were used in these e x p e r i m e n t s because previous research indicated t h a t m o r t a l i t y was high in t h e offspring of these breeders. T h e frequency distrib u t i o n of a sample of eggs from which eggs weighing 47—54 g were t a k e n is s h o w n in Table 1. A total of 8 3 . 5 7 % of t h e t o t a l eggs which were collected for hatching weighed 47—54 g. All eggs used in b o t h e x p e r i m e n t s h a d an average weight of 50.76 g. Eggs were h a t c h e d in a commercial h a t c h e r y and t h e chicks were h o u s e d at one day of age.
987
SUCROSE IN DRINKING WATER OF CHICKS TABLE 3.—Weights of broilers with and without sucrose in the initial drinking water
\
Mean broiler weight (g) a
Experiment 1
Experiment 2 53 days
28 days
53 days
Tap water + feed Tap water — feed Sucrose solution + feed Sucrose solution —- feed
624 615 618 599
1693 1716 1698 1748
673 663 677 682
1600 1608 1616 1602
No significant differences were found at either 28 or 53 days of age.
Body weights of 100 birds/test group were determined when the birds were 28 and 53 days old in b o t h experiments. Mortality was recorded daily. Feed efficiency was not determined because all test groups were intermingled. Analysis of variance (Steel and Torrie, 1960) was used for statistical examination of all data except mortality. Duncan's new multiple range test (1955) was used to determine differences between means. Mortality was analyzed by Chi Square (Steel and Torrie, 1960). All statements of significant differences refer to the 5% level of probability.
not given the sucrose solution. Thaxton and Parkhurst (1976) postulated that dehydration occurs during the first few hours after housing and that sucrose in the drinking water of broiler chicks helps alleviate dehydration. We postulate that sucrose serves as a readily available energy source quickly after the chick hatches and allows for a healthy broiler between the time it is housed and the time it is marketed. Further evidence was presented by Graham et al. (1941) who found glucose to be the most critical substance in the starvation death of 1 newborn pigs. Also, Houpt (1958) found that hypoglycemic states occur in chicks hatching. McNaughton et al. (1978) found that body fat RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of one-day-old broiler chicks was lowest in groups having the highest mortality. Therefore, Broiler mortality results are shown in Table sucrose can serve as a readily available energy 2. Broiler chick mortality was significantly lower when an 8% sucrose solution was given to source for young broiler chicks. chicks, either with or without feed, for the first 15 hr after housing than when the sucrose soluREFERENCES tion was not given. Results were essentially the Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F same in both experiments. No significant diftests. Biometrics 11:1—42. ferences were found in either 28- or 53-day Goodwin, R. F. W., 1957. The concentration of blood sugar during starvation in the newborn calf and body weights due to treatments (Table 3). foal. J. Comp. Pathol. 67:289-296. Apparently there were very few weak birds that Graham, R., J. Sampson and H. R. Hester, 1941. I. continued to live due to the sucrose solution. Acute hypoglycemia in newly born pigs (so called Thaxton and Parkhurst (1976) found that baby pig disease). Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol, and Med. 47:338-339. broiler chicks receiving a 10% sucrose solution before they were placed on feed showed larger Hanawalt, V. M., and M. Sampson, 1947. Studies on baby pig mortality. V. Relationship between age body weights and lower feed conversion ratios and time of onset of acute hypoglycemia in fasting than the chicks that received only water and newborn pigs. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 8:235—243. lower feed conversion ratios than the chicks Houpt, T. R., 1958. Effect of fasting on blood sugar levels in baby chicks of various ages. Poultry Sci. that received only water before feed. Results of 37:1452-1459. our study do not confirm these conclusions. McNaughton, J. L., J. W. Deaton, F. N. Reece and R. However, results of this study indicate that L. Haynes, 1978. Effect of age of parents and mortality is less when chicks are given a sucrose hatching egg weight on broiler chick mortality. solution the first 15 hr after housing than when Poultry Sci. 57:38-44.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
Treatment
28 days
988
McHAUGHTON ET AL.
Reece, F. N., 1977. Use of partial-house brooding and solar energy in b r o i l e r houses. Feedstuffs 49(4):72-75. Sampson, J., R. B. Taylor and J. C. Smith, 1955. Hypoglycemic coma and convulsions in fasting baby lambs. Cornell Vet. 4 4 : 1 0 - 1 5 . Skoglund, W. C , K. C. Seegar and A. T. Ringrose, 1052; Growth of broiler chicks hatched from various sized eggs when reared in competition with each other. Poultry Sci. 31:796-799.
Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and p r o c e d u r e s of statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York. Thaxton, J. P., and C. R. Parkhurst, 1976. Growth, efficiency, and livability of newly hatched broilers as influenced by hydration and intake of sucrose. Poultry Sci. 55:2275-2279. Tindell, D., and D. R. Morris, 1964. The effects of egg weight on subsequent broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 5 3 4 - 5 3 9 . Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
INTRODUCTION M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) found t h a t age of parents and hatching egg weight influenced broiler chick m o r t a l i t y . Chicks h a t c h e d from eggs laid by 29-week-old breeders had a significantly higher m o r t a l i t y from their offsprings than chicks from eggs laid b y 58-week-old breeders. Skoglund et al. ( 1 9 5 2 ) found t h a t chicks from eggs weighing less t h a n 5 0 g will n o t grow into as profitable broilers as chicks from larger eggs because of high m o r t a l i t y and lower weight of broilers h a t c h e d from small eggs. T h e y further stated, however, t h a t in periods of egg scarcity, t h e smaller eggs can be used, particularly if b o t h unfavorable shipping and early brooding c o n d i t i o n s can be avoided. T h e broiler industry is currently hatching t h e total collection of hatching eggs w i t h o u t regard t o egg weights. Therefore, a t t e m p t s were m a d e at this station to reduce m o r t a l i t y of broilers h a t c h e d from egg weight groups normally found t o have high m o r t a l i t y .
differences were n o t significant a m o n g g r o u p s fed sucrose water and tap water. H o u p t ( 1 9 5 8 ) observed that t h e n e w b o r n animal is characterized b y p r o f o u n d physiological changes as it adapts to its n e w and m o r e variable e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e m o s t critical change being n e w nutritional sources. T h e egg serves as a r e a d i l y available energy source for t h e growing e m b r y o during e m b r y o n i c developm e n t . However, w h e n chicks h a t c h , this energy source is partially eliminated. Only t h e functional y o l k sac and limited available dietary c a r b o h y d r a t e s serve as energy sources for t h e newly h a t c h e d chick. G r a h a m et al. ( 1 9 4 1 ) found glucose t o be t h e m o s t critical substance in t h e starvation d e a t h of n e w b o r n pigs. H y p o glycemic states occur quickly in pigs ( H a n a w a l t and S a m p s o n , 1 9 4 7 ) , lambs ( S a m p s o n et al, 1 9 5 5 ) , calves ( G o o d w i n , 1 9 5 7 ) , and broiler chicks ( H o u p t , 1 9 5 8 ) . Therefore, it seems logical t h e first n u t r i e n t required by t h e chick after birth is an available energy source.
T h a x t o n and Parkhurst ( 1 9 7 6 ) suggested t h a t h y d r a t i o n a c c o m p a n i e d b y a readily available energy substrate favor metabolism t h a t results in broiler g r o w t h . These researchers found t h a t broiler chicks t h a t received a sucrose s o l u t i o n (10% solution) before t h e y were placed on feed showed larger b o d y weights and lower feed conversion ratios t h a n t h e chicks t h a t received only water before feed. However,
T h e broiler industry in t h e S o u t h e r n United States is currently using hatching eggs from breeders t h a t are 26 t o 65 weeks old. Because M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) f o u n d m o r t a l i t y t o be as high as 6% w h e n chicks were h a t c h e d from 29-week-old breeder eggs weighing 4 7 - 5 4 g, research was c o n d u c t e d t o reduce t h e high m o r t a l i t y normally f o u n d in t h e offspring of y o u n g breeders. Therefore, the objective of this
1978 Poultry Sci 57:985-988
985
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
ABSTRACT Commercial poultry companies in the Southeastern United States have experienced high mortality when chicks are hatched from eggs laid by young breeding flocks. Hatching eggs weighing 47-54 g from 28-week-old breeders were collected on the farm, hatched in a commercial hatchery, and housed in a typical environment-controlled broiler house. A total of 7600 mixed-sex broilers was used in two experiments to determine the effect of adding sucrose to the drinking water on broiler chick mortality and growth. In each experiment, four groups of 950 broilers each were offered either an 8% sucrose solution or tap water, with or without feed, for the first 15 hr after housing. Broiler chick mortality was reduced from an average of 4.60% for the group of birds not receiving the sucrose treatments to 2.90% for die groups receiving the sucrose treatments. Presence or absence of feed during the first 15 hr of housing had no effect on mortality. Body weights were unaffected by dietary treatments. Thus, sucrose added to the initial drinking water of broiler chicks successfully reduced mortality of broilers without sacrificing market body weights.
McHAUGHTON ET AL.
986
TABLE 1.—Frequency distribution of hutching eggs from 28-week-old breeders Percent of total
43-44 45-46 47-48 49-50 51-52 53-54 55-56 57-58 Total
2.05 4.79 16.44 a 20.55 a 34.25 a 12.33 a 6.85 2.74 100.00
, Tindell a n d Morris ( 1 9 6 4 ) f o u n d t h a t chicks h a t c h e d from various egg weight groups a n d intermingled t e n d e d t o have greater m o r t a l i t y t h a n chicks h a t c h e d from t h e same egg weight groups b u t p e n n e d separately. T h e p o u l t r y industry is c u r r e n t l y feeding birds in o p e n - t y p e houses, so all test groups in this s t u d y were intermingled. Chicks were toe-clipped at t i m e of housing for identification.
Group of eggs selected for hatching.
s t u d y was t o d e t e r m i n e t h e effectiveness in reducing m o r t a l i t y b y adding sucrose t o t h e chick's drinking water for t h e first 15 hr after housing.
All broiler chicks were d e b e a k e d and t h e n vaccinated for Newcastle disease and bronchitis at t h e h a t c h e r y . All chicks were given G u m b o r o vaccine a t 8 days of age. In each e x p e r i m e n t , after all chicks were h o u s e d , t w o g r o u p s of 9 5 0 birds were given an 8% sucrose solution (weight-weight basis) b y f o u n t a i n - t y p e waters for 15 hr with and witho u t feed. T w o groups of 9 5 0 birds were also given n o r m a l tap water b y f o u n t a i n - t y p e waterers for 15 hr with and w i t h o u t feed. Eight 4-liter waterers were provided per 9 5 0 birds. After 15 hr, all 3 8 0 0 birds were given feed a n d water in b o x feeder lids and 2.4-m long waterers. After 3 days, t h e birds were fed from t u b e - t y p e feeders. Starter and finisher diets used were t h e same as those r e p o r t e d b y M c N a u g h t o n et al. ( 1 9 7 8 ) .
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Two e x p e r i m e n t s were c o n d u c t e d t o determine t h e effectiveness of adding sucrose t o t h e drinking water of chicks for t h e first 15 hr after housing. In each e x p e r i m e n t , 3 8 0 0 mixed-sex broilers (Ross X A r b o r Acre) were housed in an e n v i r o n m e n t - c o n t r o l l e d broiler h o u s e . Solar heat as t h e energy source and partial-house b r o o d i n g t e c h n i q u e s developed b y Reece ( 1 9 7 7 ) were used. Space allowances were .02 m 2 / b i r d from 1 t o 14 d a y s , .04 m 2 / b i r d from 14 to 2 8 days, and .08 m 2 / b i r d from 28 t o 53 • days of age. Hatching eggs collected from 28-week-old breeders were weighed individually and eggs weighing 47—54 g were separated for hatching.
TABLE 2.—Mortality of broilers with and without sucrose in the initial drinking water Mortality Experiment 21
Experiment 1 Treatment
No.
%
No.
%
Mean, %
Tap water + feed Tap water — feed Sucrose solution + feed Sucrose solution -• feed
38/950 d 37/950 29/950 24/950
4.00 i 3.89 2.42 2.53
49/950 51/950 32/950 31/950
5.16 5.37 3.37 3.26
4.58 b 4.63b 2.90 a 2.90 a
a,b Means within a column and without a common superscript are significantly different (P<.05). Tap water or an 8% sucrose solution was given for the first 15 hr after housing with and without feed. Total number of birds dead/total number started on test.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
Egg weight groups (g)
Eggs from 28-week-old breeders were used in these e x p e r i m e n t s because previous research indicated t h a t m o r t a l i t y was high in t h e offspring of these breeders. T h e frequency distrib u t i o n of a sample of eggs from which eggs weighing 47—54 g were t a k e n is s h o w n in Table 1. A total of 8 3 . 5 7 % of t h e t o t a l eggs which were collected for hatching weighed 47—54 g. All eggs used in b o t h e x p e r i m e n t s h a d an average weight of 50.76 g. Eggs were h a t c h e d in a commercial h a t c h e r y and t h e chicks were h o u s e d at one day of age.
987
SUCROSE IN DRINKING WATER OF CHICKS TABLE 3.—Weights of broilers with and without sucrose in the initial drinking water
\
Mean broiler weight (g) a
Experiment 1
Experiment 2 53 days
28 days
53 days
Tap water + feed Tap water — feed Sucrose solution + feed Sucrose solution —- feed
624 615 618 599
1693 1716 1698 1748
673 663 677 682
1600 1608 1616 1602
No significant differences were found at either 28 or 53 days of age.
Body weights of 100 birds/test group were determined when the birds were 28 and 53 days old in b o t h experiments. Mortality was recorded daily. Feed efficiency was not determined because all test groups were intermingled. Analysis of variance (Steel and Torrie, 1960) was used for statistical examination of all data except mortality. Duncan's new multiple range test (1955) was used to determine differences between means. Mortality was analyzed by Chi Square (Steel and Torrie, 1960). All statements of significant differences refer to the 5% level of probability.
not given the sucrose solution. Thaxton and Parkhurst (1976) postulated that dehydration occurs during the first few hours after housing and that sucrose in the drinking water of broiler chicks helps alleviate dehydration. We postulate that sucrose serves as a readily available energy source quickly after the chick hatches and allows for a healthy broiler between the time it is housed and the time it is marketed. Further evidence was presented by Graham et al. (1941) who found glucose to be the most critical substance in the starvation death of 1 newborn pigs. Also, Houpt (1958) found that hypoglycemic states occur in chicks hatching. McNaughton et al. (1978) found that body fat RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of one-day-old broiler chicks was lowest in groups having the highest mortality. Therefore, Broiler mortality results are shown in Table sucrose can serve as a readily available energy 2. Broiler chick mortality was significantly lower when an 8% sucrose solution was given to source for young broiler chicks. chicks, either with or without feed, for the first 15 hr after housing than when the sucrose soluREFERENCES tion was not given. Results were essentially the Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F same in both experiments. No significant diftests. Biometrics 11:1—42. ferences were found in either 28- or 53-day Goodwin, R. F. W., 1957. The concentration of blood sugar during starvation in the newborn calf and body weights due to treatments (Table 3). foal. J. Comp. Pathol. 67:289-296. Apparently there were very few weak birds that Graham, R., J. Sampson and H. R. Hester, 1941. I. continued to live due to the sucrose solution. Acute hypoglycemia in newly born pigs (so called Thaxton and Parkhurst (1976) found that baby pig disease). Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol, and Med. 47:338-339. broiler chicks receiving a 10% sucrose solution before they were placed on feed showed larger Hanawalt, V. M., and M. Sampson, 1947. Studies on baby pig mortality. V. Relationship between age body weights and lower feed conversion ratios and time of onset of acute hypoglycemia in fasting than the chicks that received only water and newborn pigs. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 8:235—243. lower feed conversion ratios than the chicks Houpt, T. R., 1958. Effect of fasting on blood sugar levels in baby chicks of various ages. Poultry Sci. that received only water before feed. Results of 37:1452-1459. our study do not confirm these conclusions. McNaughton, J. L., J. W. Deaton, F. N. Reece and R. However, results of this study indicate that L. Haynes, 1978. Effect of age of parents and mortality is less when chicks are given a sucrose hatching egg weight on broiler chick mortality. solution the first 15 hr after housing than when Poultry Sci. 57:38-44.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015
Treatment
28 days
988
McHAUGHTON ET AL.
Reece, F. N., 1977. Use of partial-house brooding and solar energy in b r o i l e r houses. Feedstuffs 49(4):72-75. Sampson, J., R. B. Taylor and J. C. Smith, 1955. Hypoglycemic coma and convulsions in fasting baby lambs. Cornell Vet. 4 4 : 1 0 - 1 5 . Skoglund, W. C , K. C. Seegar and A. T. Ringrose, 1052; Growth of broiler chicks hatched from various sized eggs when reared in competition with each other. Poultry Sci. 31:796-799.
Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and p r o c e d u r e s of statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York. Thaxton, J. P., and C. R. Parkhurst, 1976. Growth, efficiency, and livability of newly hatched broilers as influenced by hydration and intake of sucrose. Poultry Sci. 55:2275-2279. Tindell, D., and D. R. Morris, 1964. The effects of egg weight on subsequent broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 5 3 4 - 5 3 9 . Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Library of Medical Center of Fudan University on May 3, 2015