Program update
Program 1: Optimising the feed intake of chickens post-hatch
A fascinating study has revealed informative insights into the dietary preferences of broiler chicks immediately after hatching. The research from Program 1 aims to examine the innate diet preferences of broiler chicks through a double-choice model.
The study’s objective was to explore the hypothesis that chicks may develop an accurate sense of taste and smell during embryonic development.
The experimental design involved a double-choice model comparing four different diets:
- control
- iso-caloric but amino acid deficient
- iso-amino acid but lower calorie
- isocaloric and iso-amino acid.
Ninety-six day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned a choice between two diets over seven days. The results indicated a significant preference for the control diet over the other three diets, highlighting a clear preference for the maternal formulation.
Findings suggest that chicks possess an acute sense of taste and smell, allowing them to make dietary choices based on nutritional value as early as day one.
Additionally, it is speculated that these innate dietary choices are influenced by the maternal diet, warranting further investigation into a continuity strategy between maternal and starter diets.
The potential industry implications of this study are profound, suggesting that the dietary choices of chicks post-hatching could be influenced by the maternal diet, paving the way for new strategies in poultry nutrition.
The researchers delivered the study were Rafika Tunisa, Arun Kumar, Marta Navarro and Eugeni Roura from The University of Queensland in Program 1, and Gemma Tedo and Marta Blanch from Lucta providing practical advice as an industry partner.
