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Post-Hatch Performance of Broilers Following Hypoxic Exposure During Incubation Under Suboptimal Environmental
A Haron1,2, D Shinder2, M Ruzal2
1The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Frontiers in Physiology
|August 8, 2022
Summary
Hypoxic incubation improves broiler performance and thermoregulation. Exposure to intermittent or continuous hypoxia during incubation enhances feed conversion ratio and breast muscle yield, enabling better rearing under suboptimal temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Science
- Physiology
Background:
- Modern broilers prioritize rapid growth and feed efficiency, sometimes compromising thermoregulation.
- Suboptimal ambient temperatures challenge broiler energy balance and physiological functions.
- Incubation stage hypoxia can induce metabolic plasticity and adaptive responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of short-term (12-h) and continuous (48-h) incubation hypoxia on broiler post-hatch performance.
- To evaluate broiler thermoregulation and growth under various suboptimal ambient temperatures (cold, hot, cyclic).
- To determine if hypoxic preconditioning enhances broiler adaptability to environmental stressors.
Main Methods:
- Broilers were incubated under standard conditions (21% O2) or exposed to hypoxia (17% O2) for 12 hours (E16-E18) or 48 hours (E16-E17).
- Post-hatch, broilers were reared under cold, hot, or diurnal cyclic ambient temperatures.
- Key performance indicators including body temperature (Tb), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and relative breast muscle weight were measured.
Main Results:
- Hypoxic chicks (12H) under hot conditions showed lower body temperature (Tb).
- At 42 days, 12H and 48H chicks in cyclic temperatures had reduced Tbs.
- From week 4/5, 12H/48H chicks exhibited significantly lower FCR compared to controls.
- Hypoxic broilers showed increased relative breast muscle weight, especially under cyclic and hot temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Incubation hypoxia enhances broiler metabolic energy allocation, improving growth and feed efficiency.
- Hypoxic preconditioning improves broiler thermoregulation and adaptability to suboptimal rearing temperatures.
- This strategy offers potential for more resilient broiler production systems facing environmental challenges.
