Low Incubation Temperature During Late Incubation and Early Feeding Affect Broiler Resilience to Necrotic Enteritis in Later Life

• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.784869
• Publication Date: 2021-12-14T07:59:28Z
• Authors: Hendrikus J. Wijnen; Carla W. van der Pol; Inge A. M. van Ro...; Joren De Smet; Aart Lammers; Bas Kemp; Henry van den Brand; Roos Molenaar
• Keywords: Incubation period; Resilience; Egg incubation

Resilient animals can cope with environmental disturbances in life minimal loss of function. Resilience be enhanced by optimizing early-life conditions. In poultry, eggshell temperature ( EST ) during incubation and early feeding are two conditions that found to alter neonatal chick quality as well immune response later life. However, whether these affect disease resilience chickens at ages has never been studied yet. Hence, we the effects [(37.8°C control or 36.7°C lower )] late (≥embryonic days 17–19.5) strategy after hatch [immediately 51–54 h delayed on later-life broiler a 2 × factorial arrangement. At hatch, 960 broilers both sexes from 54-week-old Ross breeder flock were equally divided over 32 pens (eight replicate per treatment combination) grown for 6 weeks. Necrotic enteritis was induced single inoculation Eimeria spp. d 21 repeated Clostridium perfringens (3×/d) 21–25. Mortality body weight (BW) gain measured daily 21–35 indicators resilience. Additionally, morbidity assessed (gut lesions, dysbacteriosis, shedding oocysts, footpad dermatitis, natural antibody levels blood). Results showed lack interaction between vast majority variables. A resulted BW 5 8 post P = 0.02) more maxima oocysts feces compared < 0.01). Early tended mortality 0.06), but not affected strategy. Morbidity characteristics hardly conclusion, few indications may each impair necrotic enteritis. findings manifested consistently all parameters measured, conclusions drawn some restraint.