Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Nutrition
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Freedom from hunger and thirst is crucial for animal welfare in poultry production.
• Drinking behavior regulation in chickens is not fully understood, but linked to osmolality and water intake.
• Wet feeding's impact on broiler chick physiology and welfare requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if wet feeding affects appetite, osmolality, and stress-related gene expression in broiler chicks.
• To evaluate the effects of different wet feed percentages on broiler chick growth.
• To assess the impact of wet feeding on meat yield and water consumption.

Main Methods:

• Broiler chicks were fed varying percentages of wet feed (20%, 40%, 60%) or standard feed.
• Growth parameters (body, breast, leg weights) were measured.
• Hypothalamic gene expression for appetite, osmoregulation, and stress peptides was analyzed.
• Water loss from waterers was quantified.

Main Results:

• Forty percent wet feed significantly increased body, breast, and leg weights in broiler chicks.
• Wet feeding decreased total water loss from individual waterers.
• No significant changes were observed in mRNA levels of appetite, osmoregulatory, or stress-related genes in the hypothalamus.

Conclusions:

• Wet feeding, specifically at 40%, enhances broiler growth and meat yield.
• This feeding method improves broiler production efficiency without inducing thirst, hunger, or physiological stress.
• Wet feeding presents a viable strategy to improve both meat yield and animal welfare in broiler production.