TITLE:
Comparison of Chick Quality, Health, and Inflammation from Two Hatchery Environments
AUTHORS:
Kaylin M. Chasser, Audrey F. Duff, Kate McGovern, Mike Trombetta, Lisa R. Bielke
KEYWORDS:
Chick Quality, Hatchery Environment, Enterobacteriaceae, Hemolysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
19,
2023
ABSTRACT: Hatchery contamination can result in ingested or
inhaled microbes that may modify colonization of the intestinal and respiratory
tract, with potential to influence early growth, inflammation, and overall
health. Six experiments were completed to compare chick quality, inflammation,
and health between two hatcheries (H1 and H2). On embryonic d0, 45 eggs from
the same breeder flock were set at each hatchery. On d0, length, abdominal
height, navel and leg abnormalities, and self-righting were measured for 36
chicks/hatchery, yolk sacs were weighed, and crop/cloaca swabs were cultured
from 12 chicks/hatchery. On d7, mid-ileum and ceca were cultured from 12
chicks/hatchery. On d0 and d7, body weight (BW) and intestinal weight were measured, lung/air sac swabs and liver were cultured, and liver and air
sacs were scored for health. Blood was collected on d0 and d7 for serum
alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in Exp 1 and 2. Data was analyzed
using Student’s t-test or χ2,
significance p