Adapting the feed, the animal and the feeding techniques to improve the efficiency and sustainability of monogastric livestock production systems
Adapting the feed, the animal and the feeding techniques to improve the efficiency and sustainability of monogastric livestock production systems

Using high throughput phenotyping of growth and feed intake to improve adaptation of chickens to sustainable diets

Authors: 
Mignon-Grasteau S., Berger Q., Guettier E., Le Bihan-Duval E.
Publication date: 
25 March 2020
Full title: 
Using high throughput phenotyping of growth and feed intake to improve adaptation of chickens to sustainable diets
Publishing information: 
7th Mediterranean Poultry Summit, 25-27 March 2020, Cordoba, Spain
Abstract: 

As feed cost is representing the largest part of production cost in poultry, feed efficiency is since decades one of the most important criterion of selection. Until recently however, this criterion was recorded in conditions that differed from commercial production conditions, as animals had to be reared in individual cages to obtain individual measurement of feed intake. Moreover, while feed intake had to be collected on several consecutive days to be reliable, feed efficiency was calculated only for a limited period of time (usually one or a few weeks).We thus developed an electronic feed station that enables individual and continuous measures of feed intake and body weight of chickens reared on floor and in group. The originality of the design is coming from the fact that i) it can be used from a few days post-hatch to adult age and ii) animals are not restrained nor isolated from each other when feeding, and thus can express more natural feeding and social behaviors together with higher physical activity. Chicks are equipped with a RFID chip at hatch to be detected at every visit to the feed station. One feed station can be used for 100 birds. We used this feed station to test the capacity of adaptation to sustainable diets of two genotypes of chickens: slow-growing chickens used for Label Rouge production and fast-growing chickens used for standard production. In each genotype, half of birds (40 individuals) were fed with a classical diet adapted to their nutritional needs, mainly based on corn and soybean. The second half of birds were fed with diets containing alternative feedstuffs, chosen to be local (rapeseed, sunflower and field bean) or not in competition with human food (wheat DDGS). Standard chickens were reared until 35 d, Label Rouge chickens until 84 d. Results showed that animals have a good capacity to adapt to alternative diets. In both genotypes, growth was similar between diets or better with the alternative diet, while feed intake was similar or lower with the alternative diet. As a consequence, feed conversion ratio did not differ between diets in standard chickens. In label rouge chickens, feed conversion ratio was even better with the alternative diet until 40 d. Carcass composition was slightly improved with the alternative diet, with a higher thigh percentage in Label Rouge chickens and a lower abdominal fat percentage in standard chickens. Meat quality was moderately affected only in Label Rouge chicken, breast meat being less acidic and less yellow with the alternative diet. This new tool offers large perspectives both for nutrition and genetics. It allows a better modelling of growth and feed efficiency over time and gives access to the flock average and homogeneity. On the other hand, it makes it possible to evaluate feeding behavior which is another important component of the bird’s adaptability to dietary changes or other environmental fluctuations. 
 

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