Influence of Nutritional Stressors on Day Old Chicks Development in the Hot Humid Tropical Environment of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of delayed feed and water startment periods on the performance of broiler chicks. In the study, 90 day old Marshall R broiler chicks were weighed and randomly divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) of 18 chicks each. Each group was further replicated three times with six chicks per replicate in a completely randomized design and weighed. Feed and water were denied all the groups except the control group ‘A’. On the day of hatch chicks from group ‘A’ were weighed and sacrificed. The GIT (crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small and large intestine) and the yolk sac were weighed. The same procedure was adopted for all the groups at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively. All the weight recordings GIT sections were expressed as percentages of the respective body weight of the chicks. Body weight values of the control birds was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values for the other groups. Body weight decreased as food and water startment period were delayed further, with group B values being significantly higher than groups D and E values (p<0.05). The control birds recorded 12.4 g GIT weight, which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than values recorded for the other treatment groups. Group B value was significantly higher than C, D and E, while group C value was significantly higher than group E value (p<0.05). The early denial of feed and water affected negatively the weight and development of the GIT of broiler chicks. Delays beyond 48 hours resulted in various levels of mortality.