J. Appl. Poult. Res.
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J APPL POULT RES 2008. 17:134-140. doi:10.3382/japr.2007-00066
© 2008 Poultry Science Association
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Research Reports

Apparent Metabolizable Energy Needs of Broiler Chicks Subjected to Diverse Ambient Temperature Regimens1

W. A. Dozier, III*,2, A. Corzo{dagger} and M. T. Kidd{dagger}

* USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, PO Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367; and {dagger} Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762

2 Corresponding author: Bill.Dozier{at}ars.usda.gov


   SUMMARY
TOP
 SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Early chick performance is adversely affected by inadequate ambient temperatures. Increasing AMEn may help alleviate poor performance with chicks subjected to low brooding temperatures. This study examined the effects on subsequent growth and meat yield responses in broiler chicks provided diets formulated to either 3,040 or 3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg when subjected to diverse ambient temperatures from 0 to 15 d. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, ambient temperature was considered optimum and was held constant, with set points of 34°C from placement (0 d) to 4 d, 32°C from 5 to 9 d, and 29°C from 10 to 15 d. In experiment 2, suboptimal ambient temperatures (held constant) were 29°C from placement to 3 d, 28°C from 4 to 6 d, 26°C from 7 to 11 d, and 25°C from 12 to 15 d. In both experiments, diet and temperature were common from 16 to 40 d. Energy consumption per unit of gain from 0 to 15 d was improved with chicks fed the moderate AMEn (3,040 kcal of AMEn/kg; 1,553 kcal of AMEn intake) diet compared with chicks fed the high AMEn (3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg; 1,614 kcal of AMEn intake) diet in experiment 1. From 0 to 15 d, feed conversion was improved with chicks provided the high AMEn diet (3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg; 1,689 kcal of AMEn intake) over that of chicks fed the moderate AMEn diet (3,040 kcal of AMEn/kg; 1,678 kcal of AMEn intake) in experiment 2. In both experiments, dietary treatments did not influence final BW gain, cumulative feed conversion, or breast meat yield. Providing chicks with a diet containing moderate AMEn (3,040 kcal of AMEn/kg) when subjected to diverse brooding temperatures was adequate to support cumulative growth responses.

Key Words: broiler • metabolizable energy • temperature


   DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Benefits of adequate early amino acid needs of the broiler chick have been well documented [1–3], but published reports are less available on the AMEn response of modern broiler strains within 14 d posthatching. Research evaluating responses of the modern broiler chick provided practical AMEn concentrations during the starter period are limited [4–6]. Environmental stressors, such as low brooding temperatures, may alter the response to AMEn. Ambient temperature effects on the AMEn response of young chicks have not been examined. Hidalgo et al. [4] reported an optimal growth response with broiler chicks provided diets formulated to 3,020 kcal of AMEn/kg from 1 to 17 d. In commercial practice, dietary AMEn fed during the starter period ranges from 2,900 to 3,130 kcal of AMEn/kg [7].

Over the last several years, fossil fuel costs have increased during winter months, and as a result, broiler growers have experienced heightened fuel costs to provide supplemental heat during brooding. One option to lower fuel costs during brooding is to lower temperature set points. Subjecting chicks to a low brooding temperature has been shown to negatively affect feed conversion and mortality [8–10].

Providing low-density diets (AMEn and amino acids) to broiler chicks has elicited poor growth performance compared with chicks consuming high-density diets during the starter period [4, 11]. The young chick may not consume enough energy or amino acids to compensate for the decrease in dietary nutrient density. Conversely, research evaluating AMEn responses with broilers during the finishing period indicated that BW is not adversely affected by reducing AMEn, and older broilers under some conditions have the physical capacity to increase feed intake to compensate for reductions in AMEn [12–14].

The response to increasing AMEn concentrations may be more pronounced when chicks are exposed to suboptimal compared with adequate brooding temperatures because the young chick has a physical limitation of feed intake. These studies examined the responses of broiler chicks provided 2 concentrations of AMEn and subjected to either adequate or suboptimal ambient temperatures from 0 to 15 d on subsequent 40-d growth performance and meat yield.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Bird Husbandry
Two experiments were initiated concurrently in the same facility, and each experiment used the same source of chicks and experimental diets. The experimental facility was separated with solid doors, creating 2 identical rooms. In each experiment, 1,184 one-day-old Ross [15] x Cobb [16] chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery and randomly distributed into 16 floor pens (37 males and 37 females per pen; 0.08 m2/bird). Chicks were vaccinated at the hatchery for Marek’s disease, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis. At 12 d of age, Gumboro vaccination was administered via water. Each pen was equipped with 2 hanging feeders, nipple drinkers (15 nipples), and fresh pine shavings. Starter diets were provided as crumbles and subsequent diets were provided as whole pellets. The experimental facility was solid-sided and light- and temperature-controlled. Ventilation consisted of a single fan producing positive pressure in the house with still air at brooding and approximately 3.4 m3 per h of airflow per bird approaching market weight. Heating was provided by a heat exchanger fed with hot water from a boiler system. The lighting regimen was continuous with 2.0 lx from placement to 7 d of age, 16L:8D with 5 lx from 8 to 22 d, and continuous with 5 lx from 23 to 40 d of age. In experiment 1, ambient set temperatures consisted of 34°C from placement (0 d) to 4 d, 32°C from 5 to 9 d, 29°C from 10 to 15 d, 27°C from 16 to 24 d, 26°C from 25 to 29 d, 24°C from 30 to 34 d, 22°C from 35 to 39 d, and 21°C from 40 to 42 d. These temperatures were considered adequate from 0 to 15 d. In experiment 2, ambient set temperatures consisted of 29°C from placement to 3 d, 28°C from 4 to 6 d, 26°C from 7 to 11 d, 25°C from 12 to 15 d, 27°C from 16 to 24 d, 26°C from 25 to 29 d, 24°C from 30 to 34 d, 22°C from 35 to 39 d, and 21°C from 40 to 42 d. These temperatures were considered suboptimal brooding. The adequate temperature regimen was from the optimal set points recommended by an integrated broiler company in the southeastern United States, whereas the suboptimal temperature regimen was the actual set points used by a contract broiler grower in the southeastern United States that had the lowest fuel usage in the complex.

Dietary Treatments
In both experiments, 2 dietary treatments were provided from 0 to 15 d of age. Diets were formulated to contain either 3,040 or 3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg (Table 1Go). In commercial practice, an average AMEn value used in formulating diets during the starter period is 3,040 kcal/kg and an AMEn considered toward the upper limit is 3,140 kcal/kg [7]. Therefore, 3,040 and 3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg were considered to be moderate and high AMEn values used in commercial practice. Dietary amino acid concentrations were not increased in the high AMEn diets to minimize confounding effects attributable to amino acid intake because dietary AMEn concentration, similar to AMEn concentrations used in the present research, has been reported not to influence feed intake with broilers during the starter period [4], which is in contrast with research conducted with finishing broilers [12–14]. With the present research, we did not adjust dietary amino acid concentrations as AMEn changed in the experimental diets during the starter period, on the basis of previous research [4].


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  		Table 1. Ingredient and calculated nutrient composition of diets provided to male and female broilers from 0 to 40 d of age
 
Measurements
In each experiment, birds and feed were weighed on a pen basis at 0, 15, 28, and 40 d of age. Mortality was recorded daily. Temperature was measured by using data loggers [17] on 10-min intervals throughout experimentation (Table 2Go). At 41 d of age, 12 birds (6 males and 6 females) were selected for processing, weighed, placed in coops, and transported to the Mississippi State University processing plant. Feed was removed 12 h before processing. Broilers were electrically stunned, picked, and manually eviscerated, and the abdominal fat pad was removed. Carcasses (without abdominal fat) and abdominal fat pads were weighed. Carcasses were split into front and back halves. Front halves were chilled in ice for 18 h and manually deboned to obtain breast fillets (pectoralis major muscle) and breast tenders (pectoralis minor muscle). Carcass, breast fillets, breast tenders, and abdominal fat yields were determined from 41-d BW.


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  		Table 2. Recorded temperatures during the starter period (0 to 15 d) in experiments 1 and 21
 
Statistics
Data were statistically evaluated in a randomized complete block design by using the MIXED procedure of SAS [18]. Pen was considered the experimental unit. Each dietary treatment was represented by 8 replicate pens. Statistical significance was considered at P ≤ 0.10.


   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Experiment 1
Within the adequate temperature regimen, increasing AMEn from 3,040 to 3,140 kcal/kg resulted in poorer (P ≤ 0.04) energy efficiency from 0 to 15 d (Table 3Go). No dietary treatment differences in BW gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and mortality occurred from 0 to 15, 0 to 28, and 0 to 40 d of age. Furthermore, carcass traits were similar between dietary treatments (Table 4Go).


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  		Table 3. Live performance responses of male and female broilers provided starter diets differing in AMEn content and subjected to adequate and suboptimal floor temperatures from 0 to 15 d of age1
 

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  		Table 4. Processing yields of male and female broilers at 41 d of age provided starter diets differing in AMEn content and subjected to adequate and suboptimal floor temperatures1
 
Experiment 2
Feed conversion improved (P ≤ 0.08) as AMEn content of the diet was increased from 3,040 to 3,140 kcal/kg when chicks were subjected to a suboptimal brooding temperature from 0 to 15 d of age (Table 3Go). Dietary treatments did not influence BW gain, feed intake, and mortality from 0 to 15, 0 to 28, and 0 to 40 d of age. In parallel with cumulative live performance, carcass traits were not affected by AMEn (Table 4Go).

The energetic effect on broilers during the starter period can be affected by dietary fat source. Utilization of saturated fat improves as broilers age [19–21]; however, poultry oil is unsaturated and its utilization should not be affected by bird age. In the present research, dietary treatments were evaluated with young broilers (0 to 15 d of age), and digestibility of poultry oil probably did not affect energy utilization during the starter period. Conversely, if a saturated fat source had been used during the starter period, results may have been different from those in the present study.

Sizemore and Sigel [11] reported higher growth rate, less feed consumed, and improved feed conversion when chicks were fed diets formulated to 3,190 kcal of AMEn/kg compared with chicks fed diets with 2,712 kcal of AMEn/kg during the starter period (0 to 21 d), which translated to heavier 49-d BW. The strain of those chicks used by Sizemore and Sigel [11] is not currently used by the US broiler industry. Other research found increased 21-d BW with broilers fed diets containing AMEn concentration of 3,069 kcal/kg compared with 3,023 kcal/kg, and improved feed conversion occurred with diets containing 3,148 kcal/kg compared with chicks fed diets of 3,109 kcal/kg [5]. Apparent ME changed in the grower and finisher periods; thus, effects during the starter period on cumulative performance could not be assessed. Hidalgo et al. [4] showed no differences in growth rate, feed consumption, and feed conversion as AMEn increased from 3,020 to 3,196 kcal/kg from 0 to 17 d of age, but growth rate was reduced as AMEn was decreased to 2,976 kcal/kg. Because of changes in dietary AMEn in the grower and finisher periods, treatment effects in the starter periods could not be assessed with final performance. In the current research, no differences in growth responses occurred from 0 to 15 d and 0 to 40 d of age with chicks fed diets having increasing AMEn from 3,040 to 3,140 kcal/kg during adequate-temperature brooding. Conversely, in experiment 2, providing chicks the higher AMEn diet (3,140 kcal/kg) resulted in a 4-point improvement in feed conversion from 0 to 15 d. No advantages were noted for 0- to 40-d cumulative growth performance or carcass traits. Saleh et al. [5] found differences in BW from 0 to 21 d attributable to AMEn. Conversely, Hidalgo et al. [4] and the current research found no AMEn effects on growth performance in the starter period from 0 to 17 d and 0 to 15 d, respectively. The additional time used in the starter period may provide some of the differences in response among the 3 studies.

Dozier et al. [14] determined, with broilers provided diets varying in AMEn from 3,175 to 3,310 kcal/kg during 30 to 59 d of age, that feed consumption was decreased by 223 g, resulting in a 14-point improvement in feed conversion from 30 to 59 d of age. Older broilers, under certain conditions, have the physical capacity to regulate feed consumption when diets vary in AMEn within practical limits [12–14]. Conversely, Hidalgo et al. [4] found no differences in feed consumption when broilers were fed diets formulated in AME varying from 2,976 to 3,197 kcal/kg during the starter period. In agreement, Saleh et al. [5] found no differences in feed consumption from 0 to 21 d with chicks fed diets ranging in AMEn from 3,023 to 3,383 kcal/kg. The current research found no differences in feed consumption as AMEn was increased from 3,040 to 3,140 kcal/kg from 0 to 15 d of age, regardless of ambient temperature.

As AMEn increases, its utilization differs between younger and older birds with respect to ambient temperature. For example, as the young chick loses sensible heat, it will respond to increases in AMEn when exposed to suboptimal brooding temperatures early in life. With older broilers, as temperature exceeds the upper limit of the "thermal neutral zone," heat loss shifts from sensible to latent [14, 22, 23]. Latent heat loss requires more energy via panting, translating to an increased response with AMEn.


   CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
REFERENCES AND NOTES
 

  1. Ross x Cobb chicks fed diets formulated to 3,140 kcal of AMEn/kg had improved 0- to 15-d feed conversion when subjected to suboptimal brooding temperatures compared with a diet formulated to 3,040 kcal of AMEn/kg, but cumulative growth responses were similar between dietary treatments.
  2. These studies indicated that increasing AMEn to 3,140 kcal/kg during the starter
  3. period in commercial practice is not justified.


   FOOTNOTES
 
1 Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. Back


   REFERENCES AND NOTES
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 

  1. Eits, R. M., R. P. Kwakkel, M. W. A. Verstegen, and G. C. Emmans. 2003. Responses of broiler chickens to dietary protein: Effects of early life protein nutrition on later responses. Br. Poult. Sci. 44:398–409.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
  2. Kidd, M. T., C. D. McDaniel, S. L. Branton, E. R. Miller, B. B. Boren, and B. I. Fancher. 2004. Increasing amino acid density improves live performance and carcass yields of commercial broilers. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 13:593–604.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Kidd, M. T., B. J. Kerr, K. M. Halpin, G. W. McWard, and C. L. Quarles. 1998. Lysine levels in starter and grower-finisher diets affect broiler performance and carcass traits. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 7:351–358.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Hidalgo, M. A., W. A. Dozier III, A. J. Davis, and R. W. Gordon. 2004. Live performance and meat yield responses of broilers to progressive concentrations of dietary energy maintained at a constant metabolizable energy-to-crude protein ratio. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 13:319–327.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Saleh, E. A., S. E. Watkins, A. L. Waldroup, and P. W. Waldroup. 2004. Effects of dietary nutrient density on performance and carcass quality of male broilers grown for further processing. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 3:1–10.
  6. Saleh, E. A., S. E. Watkins, A. L. Waldroup, and P. W. Waldroup. 2004. Considerations for dietary nutrient density and feeding programs for growing large male broiler chickens for further processing. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 3:11–16.
  7. Price, C. 2005. Sanderson Farms, Laurel, MS. Personal communication.
  8. Deaton, J. W., S. L. Branton, J. D. Simmons, and B. D. Lott. 1996. The effect of brooding temperature on broiler performance. Poult. Sci. 75:1217–1220.[Medline]
  9. Charles, D. R. 1986. Temperature for broilers. World’s Poult. Sci. J. 42:249–258.[CrossRef][Web of Science]
  10. Howlider, M. A. R., and S. P. Rose. 1987. Temperature and growth of broilers. World’s Poult. Sci. J. 43:228–237.[CrossRef][Web of Science]
  11. Sizemore, F. G., and H. S. Siegel. 1993. Growth, feed conversion, and carcass composition in females of four broiler crosses fed starter diets with different energy levels and energy to protein ratios. Poult. Sci. 72:2216–2228.[Web of Science][Medline]
  12. Leeson, S., L. Caston, and J. D. Summers. 1996. Broiler responses to diet energy. Poult. Sci. 75:529–535.[Web of Science][Medline]
  13. Dozier, W. A., III, C. J. Price, M. T. Kidd, A. Corzo, J. Anderson, and S. L. Branton. 2006. Growth performance, meat yield, and economic responses of Ross x Ross 308 broilers provided diets varying in metabolizable energy from 30 to 59 days of age during low and moderate temperatures. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 15:383–393.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Dozier, W. A., III, J. L. Purswell, M. T. Kidd, A. Corzo, and S. L. Branton. 2007. Apparent metabolizable energy needs of broilers from 2.0 to 4.0 kg as influenced by ambient temperature. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 16:206–218.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL.
  16. Cobb-Vantress, Siloam Springs, AR.
  17. HOBO H08-003-02, Onset Computer, Bourne, MA.
  18. SAS Institute. 2004. SAS User’s Guide. Statistics. Version 9.1 Edition. SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC.
  19. Renner, R., and F. W. Hill. 1960. The utilization of corn oil, lard, and tallow by chickens of various ages. Poult. Sci. 39:849–854.
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  21. Carew, L. B., Jr., and F. W. Hill. 1964. Effect of corn oil on metabolic efficiency of energy utilization by chicks. J. Nutr. 77:121–126.[CrossRef]
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  23. Simmons, J. D., B. D. Lott, and J. D. May. 1997. Heat loss from broiler chickens subjected to various wind speeds and ambient temperatures. Appl. Eng. Agric. 13:665–669.




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