Innovative approache in starting 1 day old broiler chicks. Dr. Johan Van Erum Galluvet - Belgium

Transcription

1 Innovative approache in starting 1 day old broiler chicks. Dr. Johan Van Erum Galluvet - Belgium

2 introduction Current issue & possible contradiction: Animal welfare: mortality in broiler flocks (42 days) < 3,5% Less foot pad lesions Less slaughterhouse rejections and death on arrivals EU legislation + local legislation + animal welfare organisations Reduction of Antibiotics usage in animal production High percentage of poultry flocks carry multiresistent bacteria EU legislation + local legislation Social and consumer demand

3 introduction Reducing AB usage with respect for animal health and welfare, take in to account many factors: Biosecurity, Management, Vaccination programs, Feed, Breed,. at different levels: Rearing stock, Breeding stock, Hatchery, Broiler farm Today focus on the development of immunity of the broiler chick

4 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER The immune system of 1 day old chick: 1. Circulating maternal antibodies 2. Innate immunity 3. Development of acquired immunity Crucial: the innate immunity and development of the acquired immunity to overcome future infections

5 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER Digestive tract is the largest immune organ of the body The maturation of the immune system is directly linked with the development of the digestive tract

6 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER Development of digestive tract starts 24 hours after intake of feed (nutrients become available) Beginning of very fast development of digestive tract The weight of the small intestines increases with 600% in first 7 days (whole body weight with 420%)

7 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER The most important influence on the development of the immune system of the broiler chick: Feed and water intake as soon as possible after birth!!

8 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER Gut villi after 24 hours without feed & water Gut villi 24 hours after first feed & water

9 At Birth attbireat at 48 hours after

10 At brith After 48 hours

11 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER Negative influence on development of the immune system: Stress of manipulation in hatchery, during transport and placing the broiler house Stress of fasting (hatch-window!!) Stress : production of corticosteroids (= stress-hormone) Corticosteroids delay the development of the immune system

12 START OF 1 DAY OLD BROILER 2 major challenges: First feed & water intake as soon as possible after hatching out Avoid stress due to manipulation, transport etc. Out of the box idea: on farm hatching Transfer hatching eggs after 18 days of hatch to the broiler house, the pipping takes place in the broiler house.

13 ON FARM HATCHING Differences between on farm and hatchery Less handling of the chicks No stress during transport No desinfection of the chicks Direct access to feed and water During pipping period: less air-speed, lower concentration of dust and pathogens, lower CO² concentration, lower sound level Less stress for chicks that hatch on the farm

14 ON FARM HATCHING Different systems/suppliers: X-treck One 2 Born Home Hatching Nest Born Mainly in the Netherlands a succes the last 2 years.

15 ON FARM HATCHING

16 ON FARM HATCHING

17 ON FARM HATCHING

18 ON FARM HATCHING

19 ON FARM HATCHING Why success in the Netherlands? Antibiotic usage under very strong gouvernement surveillance since 2012 Direct cause = ban on use of Lincomicin and Spectinomicyn in the first 3 days as a profylactic therapy for leg problems caused by infections with enterococcus cecorum since januari 2014

20 Infections with Enterococcus cecorum: Leg problems caused by infections of E.C. are major problem (+ 20% of the fast growing broiler flocks affected) Before /- 80% of the flocks were prophylactic treated with Lincomicyn and Spectinomycin in first three days.

21 ON FARM HATCHING After ban on use of AIFs, re-emerging of leg problems (use of AB + 25%) Until now the only tool with constant good result in prevention of leg problems Broiler farmers discribe positive effects on animal health and zoötechnical results Can this be reproduced in comparative trials in research circumstances??

22 ON FARM HATCHING A gouvernemental poultry research institute in Belgium (Proefbedrijf voor Pluimveehouderij in Geel) performed research project with on farm hatching (trials are still underway): 4 X-treck compartments with 2000 broilers 4 control compartments with 2000 broilers 3 cycles (until now) = 12 repetitions of X-treck and 12 control repetitions

23 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS DAY 0: At day 0 there is significantly more stress and agitation in chicks from hatchery. (higher corticosteron levels) Earlier development of the digestive system (higher weight of stomach and gut) LITTER AND FAECES: Litter quality is better in X-treck Reason seems to be the quality of the faeces X-treck: less footpad lesions and hockdermatitis

24 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS DEVELOPMENT OF THE GUT AND PATHOLOGY: Gut development : no differences after day 8 No differences in locomotory problems Autopsy show no differences in pathology BEHAVIOUR: Differences (less stress in X-treck), remain visible after several weeks

25 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS ARE ON FARM HATCHED CHICKS MORE ROBUST? Some aspects yes, other aspects no differences There seems to be positive effect on gut development / gut health but not showable with histologic examination Circumstances during pipping may heve a long term effect

26 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS Percentages of hatching on the farm: Percentages of hatching in the hatchery : round 1: 4,74% round 2: 3% round 3: 5% Average: 4,25%

27 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS

28 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS Day 40 AVERAGE (3 rounds) HOME HATCHERY Cum loss % 3,40 4,01 Cum death% 2,24 2,93 Cum selection% 1,16 1,07 Cum feed kg/phc 3,77 3,670 Cum water feed ratio 1,823 1,800 Live weight at day Average weight gr (+ thinning weight) 2652 * 2598* Feedconversion 1,546 1,548 Voederconversion ,516 1,528 EPEF 432,65 420,88 * * 2729 *

29 ON FARM HATCHING TRIAL CONCLUSIONS Positive effect on technical results Reduction in antibiotic usage not showable in trial circumstances Economically accountable if broiler fattening cycle is not extended, because of higher heating costs, investments in equipment, higher workload on the broiler farm

30 CONCLUSIONS Reduction of usage of antibiotics in broilers with respect for animal health and welfare is an important challenge for poultry industry The on farm hatching concept shows nice results and possibilities + certainly the importance of nurturing the 1 day old chick.

31 Thank you for your attention!!

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