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Chick length & Organ development |
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Who saw this article? New!
Author: Inge Reijrink M.Sc. - Roos Molenaar M.Sc. (HatchTech Incubation Technology)
HatchTech Incubation Technology has put a lot of efforts in research on the relation between chick length at day 0 and the chick weight at day 7. Results showed a positive relation between chick length at day 0 and chick weight at day 7. A longer chick at day 0, has a higher development and growth potential than a shorter chick. A longer chick has probably on day 7 also better developed organs than a shorter chick. To investigate this, a trail was set up.
Experimental design
Chicks of a breeder flock of 33 weeks old, were selected for this trial. Birds were housed at a broiler farm of 9.000 birds and were fed a starter diet. At the day of hatch, chick length and weight was measured and sixty birds were selected and divided in three groups. The largest group contained chicks with a length between 20,0-20,6 cm, the middle group between 19,2-19,8 cm and the small group between 18,2-18,8 cm. At day 7, chicks were weighed again and the weight of the residual yolk, bursa of Fabricius, liver, heart, spleen and length of the intestines was measured.
Results
The correlation coefficient (R) of chick length at day 0 and chick weight at day 7 was positive again (R= 0,68; p<0,00). Every extra cm of chick length at day 0 resulted on average in 17,8 gram extra chick weight at day 7.
There was hardly any residual yolk found after 7 days. In 42%, 59% and 20% of the chicks of respectively the large, middle and small group was some residual yolk found. The amount of residual yolk varied between 0,03 and 0,32 grams.
The weight of the heart and liver was significant different between the large and small group. The weight of the spleen was significant different between all three groups. The chick with the largest chick length at day 0 had the heaviest heart, liver and spleen. There was no difference found between the weight in the bursa of Fabricius and the length of the intestine between the three different groups (Table 1).
Table 1. Average weight and length of c hick parameters per group of chick
length
| |
Chick length day 0
(cm)* |
Heart
(gr)* |
Liver
(gr)* |
Spleen
(gr)*
|
Bursa
(gr)* |
Intestine
(cm)* |
| large chick length group |
20,2a |
1,49a |
7,78a |
0,149a |
0,30 |
92,56 |
| middle chick length group |
19,6b |
1,43a |
7,71a |
0,122b |
0,28 |
92,31 |
| small chick length group |
18,6c |
1,25b |
6,51b |
0,120c |
0,26 |
88,85 |
| significant difference (p<0,05) |
Yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
*columns with different letters are significant different (p<0,05)
Conclusion
There was a positive relation between chick length at day 0 and chick weight at day 7. The heart, liver and spleen were better development at day 7 in the large chick length group compared to the small chick length group. The difference in heart and liver weight was not significant different between the largest and middle chick length group, probably due to the small difference between the group in chick length.
The heart is an important organ for blood supply with oxygen and nutrients for the main organs. The heart can contribute to an optimal development and growth of the chicks, which helps expressing the genetic potential. The liver and spleen are important organs as well for development and growth of the chick. The liver is the largest glandular organ of the bird and has different important functions like synthesis of different substances and maintaining the homeostasis of nutrients in the body. The spleen is a lymph organ and part of the blood filtering system and contributes to the immune system.
The length of the intestines and the bursa of Fabricius was in this trial not related to chick length. The size of the bursa of Fabricius might not be related to the development of the chick. The length of the intestine showed a lot of variation and was difficult to measure precisely, which might be the cause that no difference was found.
It can be concluded that chick length is positive related to the chick weight and the development of important organs like heart, liver and spleen. Chick length is, therefore, an important aim for hatcheries and broiler farmers. Chicks with a large chick length have better developed organs and may have a better potential for growth.
Note:
The Bursa of Fabricius
The bursa of Fabricius is a round sac and is located just above the cloaca in birds. Mammals generally have no bursa. The chicks’ bursa reaches its largest size a few weeks after hatching and then gradually decreases. B-cells, which are part of the immune system, develop, mature and migrate from the bursa to other part of the body.
Author: Inge Reijrink M.Sc. - Roos Molenaar M.Sc. (HatchTech Incubation Technology)
(5 Sent)
Who saw this article? New!
 DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE.
 
| 08/26/2006 |
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Víctor Hugo Galindo
Veterinario Y Zootecnista/universidad De San Carlos De Guatemala
Guatemala - Guatemala |
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Do you continued this research until the chicks were procesed at the slaughter house? If yes, I would like to get the information about body weight, feed conversión, carcass quality, etc. | Answer Checked by Engormix.com  |
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| 10/13/2006 |
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Dear Víctor Hugo Galindo,
We did not follow the chicks till slaughter age in this trail. We are currenlty working on a trail were we do follow the chicks from set eggs till slaughter age. As soon as we have all data analysed, we can give you more information.
Kind Regards,
Inge Reijrink & Roos Molenaar
| | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 04/16/2008 |
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Tranggono
Breeder Manager/pt. Panca Patriot Prima
Jawa Timur [Djawa Timur] - Indonesia |
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As an incubator company, what is your suggestion to produce more longer chicks? Did strain is also have a contribution to the chick length?
Tranggono
Hatchery Manager PATRIOT, Indonesia | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 05/09/2008 |
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Dear Mister,
Your question was how you can produce longer chicks. First of all there are a lot of factors influencing chick length and therefore chick quality. Two of them are breeder strain and age of the breeder flock.
Another factor influencing chick length is the incubation process, which needs to fit to the requirements of the embryo. Our recommendation is to incubate chicken embryos at an eggshell temperature of 37.8ºC (=100F). The eggshell temperature differs from the environmental temperature in the incubator. The environmental temperature needs to decrease in time to incubate at an eggshell temperature of 37.8C (=100ºF), especially after 10 days of incubation when the embryos start to produce more and more heat.
An easy method to measure this eggshell temperature is by using an infrared thermometer and measure the temperature of the eggshell. Such an thermometer is available at HatchTech Incubation Technology.
Regards,
Inge Reijrink & Roos Molenaar | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 05/13/2008 |
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Rafael Monleon
Veterinarian/aviagen Inc.
Krung Thep - Thailand |
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In addition you can also use the most common Braun Thermoscan (Ear Thermometer) to measure eggshell temperature. The thermometer is available in most parts of the world (for those who have problems with importation of tools). | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 05/14/2008 |
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Dr. S M F B Abdus Sabur
Trader & Consultant/ftdc Trade & Consultation
Dhaka - Bangladesh |
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This is amazing. I need to know the name of the broiler breed from which eggs were taken to perform this trial and in which country. What was the difference in weight gain on day 31 and day 35 of the chicks hatched from HatchTech incubators in relation to the chicks hatched from other brands of incubators using eggs from the same breed? Thanks to HatchTech technology. Go ahead with your R & D.
Dr Sabur
CEO & Poultry Industry Specialist
FTDC Trade & Consultation
Dhaka, Bangladesh | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 05/14/2008 |
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Dear Ing Rejink and Roose,
Excellent work.
Have you cheaked the size and capacity of lungs also in longer chicks?
Does longer chicks have less incidence of Ascities?
When your trial is completed, please calculate the F.C.R. of feed also.
Waiting for reply,
With best wishes and regards,
Dr. Munawar Ali | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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| 05/14/2008 |
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Dear,
Please inform me about CR after your research. | | Answer Checked by Engormix.com |
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