AN24270Early-life cold stress and broiler breeder age: effects on metabolism and performance in broiler chicks
Cold stress during the first week of rearing negatively impacted broiler chicks from 29-week-old breeders compared with 42-week-old breeders, leading to higher corticosterone levels, and reduced yolk sac absorption and crop filling. Chicks from 42-week-old breeders showed better overall performance, with higher body weight and feed intake regardless of environmental temperature. The study highlights the importance of maintaining thermal comfort for optimal chick development, particularly that from younger breeder flocks, to mitigate stress, and improve viability and growth performance.