Growth, Efficiency, and Livability of Newly Hatched Broilers as Influenced by Hydration and Intake of Sucrose

Abstract

Water or water that contained 10 percent sucrose was fed to newly hatched chicks for 12 hours prior to the placement of feed. At the end of eight weeks, both groups of birds exhibited significantly heavier body weights and numerically lower feed conversion ratios than their respective hatch-mates that received water and feed or a 10 percent sucrose solution and feed simultaneously. Additionally, the birds that received sucrose prior to the placement of feed exhibited numerically greater body weights and lower feed conversion ratios than the chicks that received only water prior to feed. These data suggest that hydration and hydration accompanied by a readily available energy substrate favor metabolism that results in growth.