Factors Associated with Cumulative First-Week Mortality in Broiler Chicks
Open Access
- 17 February 2020
- Vol. 10 (2), 310
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020310
Abstract
First-week mortality is an important performance index as well as an important welfare indicator. The aim of the present study was to identify internal (individual-dependent) and external (management or environmental) factors that could influence the cumulative first-week mortality of broilers. To carry out this study, field data obtained from a hatchery company were used, in which 2267 flocks of broiler chicks (from 2015 to 2018), were analyzed. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the data. Farm ID and house by farm were incorporated as random effects. The Odds Ratio was estimated for each factor, determining the effect of each explanatory variable. First-week mortality was significantly related to breeder age (p < 0.0001), chick gender (p < 0.0001) and breed (p < 0.0001) as internal factors, and type of broiler house (p = 0.0129), presence or absence of drip cup (p < 0.0001), egg storage (p < 0.0001), study year (p < 0.0001) and season (p < 0.0001) as external factors. Therefore, these factors should be considered in the decision making of poultry breeding companies, in order to reduce possible welfare problems and increase productive performance.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of different litter material on performance and behavior of broiler chickensApplied Animal Behaviour Science, 2010
- Fertility and hatchability of eggs laid in the pullet-to-breeder transition period and in the initial production periodAnimal Reproduction Science, 2005
- Day-old Chick Quality: Relationship to Hatching Egg Quality, Adequate Incubation Practice and Prediction of Broiler PerformanceAvian and Poultry Biology Reviews, 2005
- Risk factors for cumulative mortality in broiler chicken flocks in the first week of life in TaiwanBritish Poultry Science, 2004
- Relationships among Post-Hatch Physiological Parameters in Broiler Chicks Hatched from Young Breeder Hens and Subjected to Delayed Brooding PlacementInternational Journal of Poultry Science, 2004
- The day-old chick: a crucial hinge between breeders and broilersWorld's Poultry Science Journal, 2001
- Estudo Comparativo de Sistemas de Bebedouros na Qualidade Microbiológica da Água Consumida por Frangos de CorteBrazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 2001
- Effect of light source and regimen on growing broilersBritish Poultry Science, 1999
- Effects of egg of origin and chick post-hatch nutrition on broiler live performance and meat yieldsWorld's Poultry Science Journal, 1999
- Sex-related differences in immune response and survival rate of broiler chickensVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 1989