access to feed and water post hatch (FED) and (b) access to both feed and water 48 h ... concluded that the chicks with early access to dietary additives showed ...
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Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 25, No. 4 : 541 - 551 April 2012 www.ajas.info http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2011.11378
Effects of Dietary Additives and Early Feeding on Performance, Gut Development and Immune Status of Broiler Chickens Challenged with Clostridium perfringens Z. Ao1, A. Kocher2 and M. Choct* School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia ABSTRACT : The effects of dietary additives and holding time on resistance and resilience of broiler chickens to Clostridium perfringens challenge were investigated by offering four dietary treatments. These were a negative control (basal), a positive control (Zn-bacitracin) and two dietary additives, mannanoligosaccharides (MOS), and acidifier. Two holding times included (a) immediate access to feed and water post hatch (FED) and (b) access to both feed and water 48 h post hatch (HELD). Chicks fed Zn-bacitracin had no intestinal lesions attributed to necrotic enteritis (NE), whereas chicks fed both MOS or acidifier showed signs of NE related lesions. All dietary treatments were effective in reducing the numbers of C. perfringens in the ileum post challenge. The FED chicks had heavier body weight and numerically lower mortality. The FED chicks also showed stronger immune responses to NE challenge, showing enhanced (p
