Indian Journal of Poultry Science

The effect of post hatch (PH) water deprivation on yolk sac utilization, gastrointestinal tract development and performance was studied in neonate broilers. Broiler chicks hatched with in a period of 8 hours (hr) are taken out and accessed to water at 0, 12, 24 and 48 hr post hatching. The result of the present study indicated that PH water deprivation up to 48 hr after placement did not influence the residual yolk sac utilization. Ingestion of water immediately PH has a transient effect on enhancing body weight for initial 7 days, but no significant advantage was observed at either 21 or 42 days of age. PH water deprivation up to 48 hr significantly affected the weight and length of small intestine at 8 days of age but not at 42 days. The weight of organs like proventiculus, gizzard, liver and pancreas at 8 days of age and carcass traits such as dressing yield, giblet weight, breast meat yield and abdominal fat content at 42 days of age were not influenced by the duration of PH water deprivation. Therefore, it is concluded that access of water immediately post hatch transiently enhanced body weight gain and small intestine development. However, no long term physiological effects of post hatch water deprivation up to 48 hr could be noticed on performance, gastro-intestinal tract development and carcass traits of broiler chickens at market age.