Effects of post-hatch feeding time and pre-starter feeds on growth performance and relative weight of visceral organs in slow-growing chickens

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate effects of post-hatch feeding time and two different pre-starter diets on growth performance and relative weight of visceral organs and yolk sac in slow-growing chickens. A total of 480 one-day-old chicks (Luong Phuong breed) were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups in a completely randomized design of 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 10 chicks per pen. The two factors consisted of post-hatch feeding time (immediate access to feed after hatching (0 h) and delayed access to feed for 30 h after hatching) and pre-starters (Vi-start and Commercial 1). Birds were fed 2 different pre-starter diets from 0 to 7 days of age, and then all birds were fed the same commercial diets from 8 to 56 days of age. The results showed that during 0 - 7 days of age, chicks that were not fed for 30 h after hatch were significantly lower in body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed efficiency (FE) than those fed immediately right after hatch (P < 0.05). In this period, chicks fed Vi-start had better growth performance and FE than those fed Commercial 1. Over a 56-d study, there were no main effects of post-hatch feeding time or pre-starter feed on growth performance of chickens (P > 0.05). However, the post-hatch feeding time × pre-starter feed interaction was significant for final BW at 56 days of age (P = 0.01), suggesting that within commercial feed, delayed access to feed for 30 h increased the final BW of chickens as compared with immediate access to feed after hatch. In brief, Vi-start fed to chicks improved the growth performance of chicks during the first week after hatch. Feeding pre-starter feeds to chicks immediately right after hatch would be beneficial.