Effects of glucose injection and feeding oasis on broiler chick's subsequent performance

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of glucose injection and feeding Oasis immediately posthatch on the subsequent performance of broilers. Experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (2 x 2 x 2 x 2). Factors were included egg weight (small eggs weighting between 50 to 60 g and medium eggs weighting between 61 to 70 g), glucose injection (Control with no injection and 0.3 mL glucose injection), feeding in transportation boxes during shipping period (chicks fed Oasis and those hold with no access to feed and water) and house arrival feeding (chicks that receive feed immediately at arrival and those hold for an additional 12 h without feed). Treatments were replicated three times with 25 chicks per each. Live weight and feed intake were measured for each experimental unit at 7, 21 and 42 days of age and then weight gain and feed: gain was calculated. On days 3, 21 and 42, two chicks from each replicate were killed for carcass analysis including yolk sac residue weight (third day), duodenum, jejunum and ileum weight and length and also liver and gizzard weight. Results show an improved Weight Gain (WG) and feed efficiency (p < 0.05) in chicks from medium eggs compared to those from small eggs. A significant interaction (p < 0.05) between glucose injection and egg weight was observed, so that chicks of small eggs with glucose injection show a significant (p < 0.05) depression in WG. Chicks with immediate access to Oasis had greater (p < 0.05) duodenum and jejunum relative weight on day 3 and duodenum on day 42. Oasis fed chicks also had better WG and breast meat yield (p < 0.05) while feeding Oasis did not influence feed efficiency. Feeding Oasis also increased yolk utilization. Chicks with delayed access to feed in the house compensate their initial decreased WG during the later stages. Glucose injection had no beneficial effect, but immediate access to feed in posthatch chicks improved their performance.