Critical Early Feeding on
Broilers
Broiler Nutrition and Feed Technology Conference
Wilmer J. Pacheco
Extension Specialist and Associate Professor
Auburn University
Outline
Early
Feeding
Brooding
Bird Precise
Performance Nutrition
Management
Producing Broiler Meat Total Process
Indian River® Broiler Management Handbook
Reasons for Rapid Growth
Zuidhof et al. 2014
1957 2007 2019
120 days 35 days 33 days
3.1 pounds 4.5 pounds 4.5 pounds
1.55 FCR 1.40 FCR
• Modern broilers can reach the market weight in shorter time
• Starter period represents a greater portion of chicks’ life
Ross 708 Male Performance Objectives
On Farm Hatching
• In commercial hatcheries, some chicks hatch early and need to stay in the
hatcher until a the majority of the remaining eggs is hatched out
• Sexing, sorting, vaccination and transportation can prolong the fasting period
(Batal and Parsons, 2002).
• Yolk sac residues provide energy and protein for maintenance and growth.
§ Yok absorption is critical for birds’ survival
§ Used within 3 to 4 days after hatching
• Feed consumption soon after hatch promotes better yolk absorption and
reduce susceptibility to pathogens and diseases
https://www.vencomaticgroup.com/on-farm-hatching
In Ovo Nutrition
Probiotics – prevent infections
Amino acids – muscle development
Vitamins C and E – Immunity
Carbohydrates - ↑ Glycogen stores
Introduction
• Sexing, sorting, vaccination and transportation can prolong the
fasting period (Batal and Parsons, 2002).
• Yolk sac residues provide energy and protein for maintenance and
growth.
§ Yok absorption is critical for birds’ survival
§ Used within 3 to 4 days after hatching
• Feed consumption soon after hatch promotes better yolk absorption
and reduce susceptibility to pathogens and diseases
Feed Deprivation and
Turkey Performance
Noy et al., 2001
Pre-Starter Diets
• Higher AA density diet developed to be fed from 0 to 4 days of age
(100 gram/animal)
§ Fed either at the hatchery or in the broiler farm
• Highly digestible ingredients: special soy products, animal plasma
§ 3% of fermented SBM in the pre-starter or during the first week
• Higher level of digestible amino acids and phosphorus, low in calcium
an fat
§ Limited endogenous enzyme secretion
Geerse, 2022
Feed Formulation
Ideal Protein/Balanced Protein, Ross 708 Ideal Protein/Balanced Protein, Cobb 500
Starter Grower Finisher Starter Grower Finisher 1 Finisher 2
Digestible Amino Acid Digestible Amino Acid
1-10 11-24 25-end 1-8 9-18 19-28 >29
Lysine, % in feed 1.28 1.15 1.03 Lysine, % in feed 100 100 100 100
Methionine + Cystine 74 76 78 Methionine + Cystine 75 76 78 78
Threonine 67 67 67 Threonine 68 65 65 65
Valine 75 76 77 Valine 73 75 75 75
Isoleucine 67 68 69 Isoleucine 63 64 65 66
Arginine 107 107 108 Arginine 105 105 105 105
• Limiting AA in corn-SBM diets fed to broilers:
Methionine + Cystine in feed = 1.28 x 0.74 = 0.9472
• Methionine
• Adjustment can be made depending on market objectives • Lysine
• Threonine – Gut health challenge • Threonine
• Arginine – Heat stress • Valine
• Isoleucine – Breast meat yield • Isoleucine – 4th in diets with animal by
• Consider antagonism between AAs product meals
• Arginine – 4th in sorghum based diets
Starter Diet
Ingredient % Nutrient
Corn 53.95 AME, kcal/kg 3000
Conventional Soybean Lysine, % in feed 1.28
36.8
Meal Methionine + Cystine 74
DDGS 5 Threonine 67
Dikal 1.23 Valine 75
Limestone 1.06 Isoleucine 67
Corn Oil 0.62 Calcium 0.96
Salt 0.35 Available phosphorus 0.48
Methionine 99% 0.34 Sodium 0.20
Lysine 0.22 Choline, ppm 1700
L-Threonine 0.14
AU Mineral Premix 0.1
AU Vitamin Premix 0.1
Choline 0.07
Quantum Phytase 0.01
Feed and Feed Quality
• Ideally 50 to 70% of the brooding space should be covered with paper
§ Disperse 40 to 50 grams of feed per chick on the paper
• House walking 2 to 3 times per day stimulate feed consumption
§ Stir the feed to stimulate feed consumption
• Feed consumption during the first 10 days represents a small proportion of total feed consumed
§ Starter formulations should focus on promoting biological performance rather than reducing
feed costs
• Feed form – mash or crumbles
§ Use highly digestible ingredients
§ A higher level of digestible amino acids could be beneficial if birds will be deboned
Mash Crumble Pellet > 4mm
Feed Quality
• Newly hatched chicks have preference for particles between 1 and 3
mm
Ross Broiler Management Handbook, 2018
Crumble Quality
Collect at least 3 samples bellow the cumbler
sample sample sample
Feed Form and Performance
BW 14 FCR 14 BW 35 FCR 35
500 1.8 2520 2496 1.8
2482
1.6 2470 1.6 1.53 1.52 1.52
450 443 446 1.41
1.4 2420 1.4
1.28 1.26 2380
2370
1.2 1.2
400 2320
384 1 1
2270
0.8 0.8
350 2220
0.6 0.6
2170
300 0.4 0.4
2120
0.2 2070 0.2
250 0 2020 0
Mash Crumble 3 mm Mash Crumble 3 mm Mash Crumble 3 mm Mash Crumble 3 mm
pellet pellet pellet pellet
Precision Nutrition – Feeding Phases
§ Higher number of feeding phases = more precise nutrition
§ Lower nutrient excretion
§ Evaluate your feed mill and transportation capacity
U
U O 1.28% Digestible Lysine
O
U = Underfeeding the nutrient
O = Overfeeding the nutrient
Adapted from Penz, 2019
Precision Nutrition – Mixing Uniformity
Nutritionist Feed Mill
Objective: The diet consumed by the animals should be very similar to the one
formulated by the nutritionist
o Feed consumption during the 1 day - ~12 grams/bird
Adapted from Silva, 2019
Precision Nutrition – Mixing Uniformity
• Sample collection
Mixer
– 10 samples
(Follow LOTO)
• Select a micro ingredient
(≤0.5% inclusion)
• Conduct assay
• Analyze the data
• Calculate CV
Surge Standard Deviation
Hopper CV% = X 100
Mean
Before
Mash Leg
(Best option)
LOTO = Lock out, tag out
Precision Nutrition – Mixing Uniformity
Micro Tracers
• Goal – CV lower than 10%
• Closer to 5% CV = better particularly during the starter period
Nutritional Problems
• Make sure chicks receive all necessary nutrients
• Nutritional problems occur due to:
• Human error
§ Typing errors during feed formulation
§ Nutrient matrix errors
§ Errors during feed manufacturing
• Ingredients placed in the wrong bin
• Poor mixing uniformity
§ Error during feed delivery (wrong bin at the farm)
Feed Milling Issues
• Train employees
• Conduct mixing uniformity tests
§ At installation
§ At least twice a year
§ Make sure that scales are weighing accurately
• Reconcile inventory at the end of each shift
§ Count your ingredients
§ Check your records
§ Address the missing items
§ Figure out the reasons behind any discrepancies
§ Actual inventory = initial inventory + receipts - usage
Precision Nutrition - An Integrated
Approach
• Ingredient Analysis
§ You need to gather as much information as possible about your
ingredients before you formulate your diets
• Feed Mill
§ Produce the feed as precise as possible
§ Follow good manufacturing practices
• Farm
§ Proper feeder and water space
§ Proper environmental conditions
§ Correct bird density
Brooding and Water Quality
Early
Feeding
Brooding
Bird Precise
Performance Nutrition
Management
Brooding Period
• Hatch to 14 days:
§ Development of immune, digestive, and skeletal systems
• In the final stages of incubation, chicks receive their nutrients from the egg yolk
§ Residual yolk provides the chick with a protective store of antibodies and nutrients until a feed source
becomes available
§ If the chick receives feed promptly after hatch, growth will be initiated straight away and the residual yolk
will start mobilizing as soon as feed enters the gut giving the chick a useful boost to growth
§ Delaying feed, delays yolk absorption and initial growth
• The transition has to be smooth to promote good feeding and drinking behaviors
Reduce
chick
stress
Farm Preparation
• Clean and disinfect the house prior to chick arrival
§ Make sure you have sufficient downtime between flocks
§ At least 14 days to reduce transmission of diseases between flocks
• Floor temperature is as important as air temperature
§ Houses should be preheated for a minimum of 24 hours prior to chick arrival to
insure good litter temperature
§ Newly hatched chicks cannot regulate their body temperature during the first 4
days
• Recommended conditions at placement:
§ Air temperature 32°C (90°F)
§ Litter temperature: 30°C (86°F).
§ Relative humidity: 50-70%
Prior to Chicks Arrival
• Use adequate bedding material to absorb droppings and keep chicks
warm
§ Bedding material should be evenly distributed with 5 to 10 cm in depth
§ Make sure feeder and drinkers are clean
§ Make sure that brooding equipment is working properly
Prior to Feed Arrival
• Feed bins should be inspected and caked material removed
§ Moisture in the feed hoppers, or condensation in the walls due to
temperatures differences between day and night can lead to moldy feed
buildup, which can create an optimal environment for bacterial growth and
mycotoxin production
• Dry cleaning is recommended
§ If wet cleaning is done incorrectly, moisture can
represent a potential source for microbial growth
and feed contamination
Chicks Holding and Transportation
• Temperatures in boxes should be maintained at
32°C (89.6°F)
• On arrival, face the vehicle into the prevailing wind
to prevent wind chill on the chicks during unloading
• Only unload trolleys of chicks to meet the pace of
the staff
§ Do not have trolleys of chicks waiting on the
concrete pad outside the house
Cobb Manual: Optimum Broiler Development
Biosecurity
• First line of defense again diseases:
§ It helps to limit disease transmission between farms
§ Everyone at the farm during chicks arrival must adhere strictly to biosecurity
practices
§ Prevent entry of unauthorized or unnecessary visitors
§ If entry is needed – change clothing, use coveralls, gloves, air nets, etc.
§ Visit the farm with the youngest birds first
§ Ensure that birds are vaccinated at the hatchery
Temperature and Chick Physiology
• Chick are not equipped to regulate their body temperature and rely on
environmental temperature to maintain optimal body temperature
§ Chilling or overheating during brooding can lead to poor performance
§ Ideal brooding limits the amount of energy used to dissipate or generate
heat
• Cool temperature during brooding can lead to impaired immune and
digestive systems
§ Reduced growth and increased susceptibility to diseases
Fairchild, 2012
Brooding Temperature and Chick
Performance
• One of the goals during brooding is to maintain chicks within their
comfort zone
§ Optimal temperature: 30 to 32°C at floor level
§ Below comfort zone: more energy must be expended to maintain
body temperature.
• Energy supplied by feed consumed
• Less nutrient available for growth
• Brooding temperatures vary depending on the heat source used
• Examples: Air furnace, conventional brooder or radiant brooder
Fairchild, 2012
Temperature and Chick
Performance
Day Forced Air Furnace Conventional Brooder Radiant Brooder
0 93°F (34°C) 90°F (32°C) 88°F (31°C)
3 90°F (32°C) 88°F (31°C) 86°F (30°C)
7 87°F (31°C) 86°F (30°C) 84°F (29°C)
14 83°F (28°C) 85°F (29°C) 82°F (28°C)
21 78°F (26°C) 80°F (27°C) 77°F (25°C)
• Forced air furnaces require higher temperature settings because they heat the air which
heats the floor
• A conventional brooder directs approximately 40 percent of its heat to the floor and 60
percent to the air
• Radiant brooders project approximately 90 percent of their heat to the floor and 10
percent to the air
Fairchild, 2012
Monitor
• The best indicator of correct brooding conditions is monitoring chick
behavior
§ Chicks should be spread evenly throughout the brooding area
Evaluate Bird Condition
• Slowly walk the house
• Pick up any birds that do not move
§ Check is they are sick and evaluate the number
of birds affected
Time of Crop Fill Target Crop Fill
After Placement (% of Chicks with Full Crops)
2 hours 75
12 hours >85
24 hours >95
48 hours 100
Ross Broiler Management Handbook, 2018
Brooding Tips
2100
Importance: 1900
1890
1990
1800
§Brooding represents a higher 1700 1650 1635
1600
percentage of the total grow out
35-d BW
1500
§Birds are able to reach their market weight 1300
in shorter time 1100
900
• F – Feed 700
≤ 140 140 - 150 150 - 160 160 -170 170 - 180 ≥ 180
• L – Lighting – 23 hours of light 7-day BW
• A - Air Energy Expenditure
• W – Water
• S – Sanitation 20%
80%
Growth Maintenance
Adapted from Cobb Management Guide, 2013
Goals During the First Week
2100
1990
1890
1900 1800
• Maximize feed intake 1700 1600
1650 1635
35-d BW
§ Ensure good crumble quality 1500
1300
§ Optimize 7 days BW
1100
§ During the first 7 days 80% of the energy
900
is used for growth and 20% for
maintenance 700
≤ 140 140 - 150 150 - 160 160 -170 170 - 180 ≥ 180
7-day BW
§ 1 g extra at 7 days = 7 grams extra at
processing Energy Expenditure
20%
80%
Growth Maintenance
Cobb Management Guide, 2013
Air and Ventilation
• Brooding = Minimal ventilation
§ Maintain temperatures and relative humidity (50 to 70%)
§ Remove gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia
§ Carbon dioxide - < 3,000 ppm
§ Ammonia - <25 ppm
§ Minimum ventilation rates should provide fresh air Wind speed should be ~30 feet per minute or
lower to avoid chilling the birds
• Fresh air must be introduced uniformly, mixed well with the air inside the house
§ Prevent cool air from settling near the litter and chilling the birds
§ Air should enter through inlets and directed across the ceiling to mix the air
§ Control negative pressure to ensure adequate air movements
§ House 40 feet wide = -0.10 psi
§ - 0.01 PSI = 2 feet air movement
Litter Quality
Disease
challenge
• Lower litter moisture levels reduces
ammonia production: Water
Ventilation
§ Footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence is reduced quality
with good litter quality
§ Protein quality – more digestible ingredients = Litter
better litter quality and lower incidence of Quality
pododermatitis
§ Fat quality - greasy or sticky litter which can Bedding Stocking
lead to problems with pododermatitis material density
§ Feed form – crumbles and pellets improve
digestibility and reduce nutrient excretion into Drinker
the litter Management
Final Considerations
• Optimum bird performance starts even before birds arrive to the farm
• Early nutrition influences birds’ performance and health
• Keep records for initial BW, BWG, feed and water consumption, bird behavior
• Understanding normal patterns
• Helps to identify and correct any potential problems with the flock
• Before entering the chicken house be aware of external climatic conditions
• This helps you to anticipate, which equipment should be operating
• At the farm, it is important to understand the crucial role brooding, feed and
water quality in birds’ health and overall performance
Take Home Message
“The goal of a good brooding and nutrition program is to provide all the
required nutrients in every single bite”
Protein Carbohydrates
+ =
Vitamins Minerals Fats
Thanks!!
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