PHOTO: VAN ASSENDELFT FOTOGRAFIE


BIGGER PICTURE ▶▶▶ Benefits of early feeding


Giving day-old broilers the best start possible is on everyone’s mind, all the time. In north- west Europe, farmers have gained quite some field experience with both hatchery fed chicks as well as on farm hatched birds. The benefit of both early feeding systems is that the chicks get on the feed as soon as possible which leads to less stress, better development of the im- mune system, better developed organs and a higher bodyweight at day 7. An extra bonus of on farm hatched chicks is the absence of the risk of cross contamination in the hatchery and thus a reduced risk of enterococcus. Farmers see less early mortality and overall healthier chicks requiring less antibiotic usage. That said, this does not guarantee a trouble-free flock. Neither farmers nor their veterinarians see any improved performance compared to normal after the first week.


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