STARTER VS. CORN AND SUPPLEMENTAL CALCIUM PROPIONATE IN INITIAL BROILER FEEDING'

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1 Q195'9 Applied Poultry Science, Inc STARTER VS. CORN AND SUPPLEMENTAL CALCIUM PROPIONATE IN INITIAL BROILER FEEDING' S. L. VIEIRA and E. T. MOW, JR? Deparlment of Poultry Science and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, AL Phone: (334) Fa: (334) Primarv Audience: Nutritionists. Hatcherv Personnel DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM Yolksacofthe hatchmgchickis highinfat, but very low in carbohydrate [l]. It supplies approxhately 50% of the total energy needed by the chick immediately after hatching [2]. Since fat does not contribute to metabolic synthesis of glucose, gluconeogenesis is expected to originate predominantly from body and yolk sac protein. The dependence on fat for energy together with inaccessibility of glucose result in a progressive ketosis in the newly hatched chick [3]. Furthermore, incomplete fatty acid catabolism leads to reduced production of the metabolic water that is important to minimize dehydration at this time [4]. The digestive tract of the hatching chick is well adept to starch digestion [5J Feeding high carbohydrate diets to a post-hatched chick provides a source of high in glucose 1 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series Number To whom correspondence should be addressed

2 256 CORN AND PROPIONATE and is easier to utilize for their post-hatch immediate needs than current diets. Raising the carbohydrate level while decreasing protein in feeds given to poults led to increased blood glucose and minimized the need for gluconeogenesis [6]. A decrease in the extent of gluconeogenesis from body protein is expected to improve access to protein for body tissue formation. Given that the newly hatched chick is actively fusing satellite cells to increase myonuclei and facilitate muscle growth [7,8], protein adequacy at this time could be particularly important to growth rate, as is the case in mammals [9]. Calcium propionate is the salt form of propionic acid after reaction with calcium carbonate. It is an additive commonly used for mold control in stored grains. Because it is rapidly absorbed and highly effective in its metabolic conversion to glucose, its presence in the diet of newly hatched chicks may compensate for the low carbohydrate reserves at hatching [lo]. Supplementing starter feeds with high levels of propionic acid has been shown to relieve mort&@ in poults and chicks hatched from small eggs [ll, 121. However, propionic acid has been suggested to be anorectic, which could complicate the initiation of feed intake [13]. The use of diets high in carbohydrate or supplemented with compounds capable of an efficient metabolic conversion to glucose, such as propionate, may benefit the post-hatch chick by increasing circulating glucose and sparing body protein. The present experiment examined the potential advantage of feeding ground corn as a source of carbohydrate and of supplementing propionate in the feed from hatching to 3 days. Measurements extended beyond live performance to include carcass quality and cone-deboned part yields. MATERIALS AND METHODS One-day-old Ross male x Ross 308 female broiler chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Birds were feather sexed and vaccinated for Marek s disease, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis upon arrival at the farm. Immunization against infectious bursal disease followed 2 wk later. Only male chicks were placed, and this occurred in pens with new pine shavings in an open-sided house having thermostatically controlled curtains and cross ventilation (32 pens; 25 birds/pen; 1.8 ft%ird). During the first 3 days, birds were given either ground corn or a standard starter feed in which 2.4% calcium propionate was either supplemented or excluded. Dicalcium phosphate and limestone were adjusted to maintain calcium and phosphorus requirement levels in all feeds but the ground corn control. Feeds thereafter were common corn-soybean meal formulations (Table 1) that satisfied NRC recommendation [14]. Feed and water were freely accessible throughout the experiment, and lighting was continuous. Mortality was recorded daily, and weight of dead birds was used to correct feed conversion for each pen. After the frnal weighing at 49 days, birds were held in transportation coops for approximately 14 hr before on line processing, which involved a 9-min kill line followed by a 7-min evisceration line. Whole carcasses without necks were static slush-ice chilled for approximately 3 hr, then drained for about 2 min. Depot fat was removed from the abdominal cavity, and quality defects were itemized by type and location. Deboning on stationary cones was conducted the following day by personnel from a commercial plant employing existing procedures. Femurs obtained after deboning were evaluated for fractures of the upper epiphysis. Strength of the shafts was then determined using an Instron Universal Instrument [lq. Data were statistically evaluated by analysis of variance involving a factorial arrangement of type of feed at placement and calcium propionate supplementation. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design. All data was analyzed with the ANOVA procedure of SAS [16]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The inclusion of 2.4% calcium propionate provides not only substantial propionic acid (cu. 2%), but a large amount of calcium. Feeds in this experiment were formulated using dicalcium phosphate to maintain a 21 calcium-phosphorus relationship in the corn or standard feed supplemented with calcium propionate. In formulating the standard feed without calcium propionate, limestone and dicalcium phosphate were used as the only sources of calcium and phosphorus. The

3 Research Report VIEIRA and M OW, JR. 257 *185% phosphorus, 24.1% calcium. B215% calcium. Provides r kg of diet: vitamin A, 14,711 IU; vitamin D3,4,404 IU; vitamin E, 16 IU; vitamin K3,4 mg thiamine, 2 mg; ribo%vin, 11 mg; pyxidoxine, 4.4 mg; cyanocobalamine, 0.04 mg; niacin, 72 mg; ntothenic acid, 26 mg; folic acid, 1.0 m. biotin, 0.2 mg; choline, 1 g; selenium, 0.7 mg; man anese, 131 mg; zinc, llrmg; iron, 11 m ; copper, 12 mg; iodine, 9.0 m ethoxyquin, 250 m and coccidiostat, O.& mg (Coban = monensin sodium, 604 premix, Elanco Products Co., kdianapolis, IN 48&). %utrient comwsition estimated usinevalues Drovided bv the NRC ground corn basal diet did not contain either of these; which in turn confounded the effects due to propionate. Even so, no interactions between corn and starter occurred when adding calcium propionate; thus, all data are presented as main factor comparisons. Chicks receiving corn from placement to 3 days had reduced weight gain during this interval, which persisted after access to the starter until 42 days (Table 2). Compensatory growth did not occur and broilers that were fed corn weighed less than controls at 49 days when experimentation ceased. Supplementing calcium propionate did not affect weight gain during the first 3 days, nor thereafter. Chicks receiving the standard diet during the first 3 days after placement displayed better feed conversion than those given corn. Thereafter, both treatments were similar when given common feeds (Table 3). Adding calcium propionate to the first feed did not lead to significant differences in feed conversion while it was being fed, but a small disadvantage subsequently occurred from 21 to 42 days. However, overall feed conversion was not affected. Mortality rates were higher than is usual for commercial flocks, and this was more pronounced after 21 days. However, number of dead birds was considered homogeneous among pens throughout the experiment. Feeding corn during the first 3 days led to a reduction in mortality immediately thereafter until 21 days, but no other effects were observed with this parameter (Table 4). Supplementation with calcium propionate did not affect

4 258 JAPR CORN AND PROPIONATE TABLE 2. Weight gain of broiler malesfed either a standard feed or ground corn from placement to 3 days and the influence of supplemental calcium propionate* *Values represent a total of 32 pens with 25 broilers each at the start of experiment. Data are given as contrasts of the main factors in the absence of significant interactions (P >.OS). BStandard emr of the mean had 2.5 df and is appropriate to each contrast. * *P <.01; * *P <.001. FEED CONTRASr FEED CONVERSION 1-3 Days 3-21 Days 21-42Days I 4249Days 149 Days **a NS I NS NS NS I Standard I 1.11 I 152 I 1.85 I 2.37 I 1.93 I I Corn I 2.34 I I 2.29 I 1.94 I ICaPROPIONATE 1 NS I NS I I NS I NS I l o I 1.79 I 155 I 1.84 I 2.32 I 1.93 I I 2.4% I 1.66 I 1.48 I 1.88 I 2.34 I 1.95 I SEM~ I mortality at any time during experimentation (Table 4). Chilled carcasses of broilers that received the standard feed at placement were heavier than those birds given corn and also produced a greater proportional yield (Table 5). Additional abdominal fat from carcasses of birds fed corn was also apparent. Supplemental calcium propionate in the first feed did not affect yield. Incidence of defects capable of downgrading and/or altering carcass appearance that could be attributed to either type of feed or supplemental calcium propionate during the first 3 days of the chicks' life was varied and minor (Table 6). Proportions of grade A carcasses in total were not affected by either one of the post-placement treatments. Conedeboning the carcasses from broilers that had received corn the first 3 days led to a reduction in total parts yields compared to those birds given starter, as was apparent with the whole carcass; however, the proportion of each part was similar (Table 7). Supplementation with calcium propionate did not show any affect on the evaluated parameters. Femurs were evaluated after deboning of thghs to determine whether skeletal integrity was affected by calcium and phosphorus alterations. Neither incidence of upper epiphysis breakage nor strength of the shaft were altered by the treatments (Table 8). This indicates that

5 VIEIRA and M OW, JR. Research Report 259 TABLE 4. Mortality of broiler males fed either a standard feed or ground corn from placement to 3 days and the influence of supplemental calcium propionatea FEED COraRfsr Standard 2.4% SEM* MORTALlTY 1-3 Days 3-21 Days 2142 Days 4249 Days 149 Days 8 NS NS NS NS Corn I 0.5 I 0.8 I 4.2 I 1.8 I 7.3 CaPROPlONATE I NS I NS I NS I NS I NS 0 I 0.5 I I CONTRAST AValues re resent a total of 32 pens with 25 broilers each at the start of experiment. Data are given as contrasts of the main &tors in the absence of significant interactions (P>.OS). Probabilities are based on values after transformation (arc sin 4%). BStandard error of the mean had 25 df and is appropriate to each contrast. 'P <.os. CARCASS~OUTFA'TB 8 FEED I Standard Ca PROPIONATE % SEM~ I 14.6 I 0.24 calcium present in the calcium propionate was efficiently utilized. The reduction in mortality occurring specitically among birds that received corn early in life reflects increased availabfity of glucose in a period of life when the chick is receiving a high load of fat from the yolk sac. However, losses in body weight gain occurred and were perpetuated, causing reductions in chilled carcass weight as well as in its proportion from the full-fed live broiler. This, along with ABDOMINAL. FAT NS I NS ' 8 AValues represent a total of 32 pens with 25 broilers each at the stai rt the main factors in the absence of significant interactions (P>.OS). 'Carcass after 4 hr of static slush-ice chillin and removal of neck, giblets, and abdominal fat. Values are expressed on an absolute basis and as a percentage of &e full-fed live weight. %tandad error of the mean had 25 df and is appropriate to each contrast. *P<.OS; ***P< NS a significantly greater deposition of fat in the abdominal cavity, suggests nutritional imbalance, very likely due to protein deficiency occurring immediately after hatching. Permanent impairment of growth as an effect of early nutrient deficiency has been observed in mammals. Animals in these situations have reduced cell number due to decreased hyperplasia, whereas under-nutrition later in life is more influential on cell hypertrophy, which allows recovery to normal size [9].

6 CORN AND PROPIONATE

7 VIEIRA and M OW, JR. Research Report 241 CONTRAS TOTAL WINGS DRUMSZlCKS THIGHS FILLITIS PARTS TENDERS CAGES I *Standard emr of the mean had 25 df and is appropriate to each contrast. 'P <.os. SEM~ I BStandard emr of the mean had 25 df CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS 1. Broiler chicks fed corn from placement to 3 days experienced substantially reduced early weight gain and never recovered. 2. Feeding corn at placement led to a reduction in the subsequent mortality to 21 days. However, a reduction in carcass yield and an increase in the proportion of abdominal fat were observed after processing. Proportions of deboned parts were not affected. 3. Calcium propionate supplemented to 2.4% did not influence either Live performance or carcass quality when added to either type of feed after placement. I I

8 262 JAPR CORN AND PROPIONATE 1. Romanoff, hl, The Avian Embryo. The McMillan Company, New York, NY. 2. M~uakam!! H., Y. and M. HorlgaeM, Energy and rotem utllizahon in newly-hatched broiler chicks - Stules on the early nutrition of poulhy. Japan. J. Zmtech. Sci Best, EE, The changes of some blood constituents during the initial post-hatching period in chickens. 11. Blood total ketone bodies and the reduced utathioneketone body relationship. Br. Poultq sci.? H.mmond, J.C., Lack of water a cause of loose, slim gizzard linings accompanying early mortality in poults. Jkitry sci. w: Moran, ET., Jr., Feeding broilers at placement. Pages in: Proc. Carolina Nutr. Conf., Charlotte, NC. 6. Donnldson, W.E and V.L Christcnsen, Dietary carbohydrate level and ucose metabolism in turkey poults. Comp. Biochem. P hysiol. 98A Moss, F.P., 1%. The relationship between the dimension of the fibers and the number of nuclei durin normal growth of skeletal muscle in the domestic f d Am. J. Anat. 122: Moss. F.P. and CP. Leblond Satellite cells as the source of nuclei in muscles of +ng rats. Anat. Rec REFERENCES AND NOTES 9. Whkk, M. and A. Nobk, Cellular res nse in rats during malnutrition at various ages. J.%utr. 89: Home, ME, D.E Coder G.W. Ivie, and J.R Deloach, Metabolism of l4 propionic acid in broiler chicks. Poultq Sci. 72:786b% 11. Phelps, V.E, ET. Moran, Jr. and J.S. Spano, Propionic acid as a dietary uconeogenic source to relim poult "stamouts." Poufily Sci. 71:27 (Abs). 12. Vleira, SL and ET. Moran, Jr., Extremes in breeder flock age and high additive ropionate at lacement affect broiler performance. Pou~Sci bs). 13. Pinchssov, Y. and% FChdah, Broiler chick to anoretic agents: 1. Dietary acetic and propiomc aads and the digestive system. Pharm. Biochem. Behw. 48: NaU0IL.I Research Comcil, Nutrient Requinments of Domestic Animals. Nutrient Requirement of Poultry, 9th Rev. Edition. Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC. 15. A Modcl 1011 Universal (Instron Corp., Canton, MA applied force at midshaft (probe load 2 to itioned across the open end of a 50 kg on d emurs din d er 49 mm in Emeter. 16. SAS Institote, SAWSTAT User's Guide. Release 6.03 Edition. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. The percentages for mortality, ca~ss defects, and grade were anabed as arc sin 4%.