Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong
The present study aimed to investigate the quality of newly hatched broiler chicks delivered to Hong Kong (imported or local), and to develop tailored recommendations to improve their management. During 2019–2021, 70 batches (34 imported from mainland China and 36 local) of one/three day old chicks...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1520 |
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| author | Omid Nekouei Denis Yau Brett MacKinnon Ioannis Magouras Anne Conan Ibrahim Elsohaby Surya Paudel Dirk U. Pfeiffer |
| author_facet | Omid Nekouei Denis Yau Brett MacKinnon Ioannis Magouras Anne Conan Ibrahim Elsohaby Surya Paudel Dirk U. Pfeiffer |
| author_sort | Omid Nekouei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study aimed to investigate the quality of newly hatched broiler chicks delivered to Hong Kong (imported or local), and to develop tailored recommendations to improve their management. During 2019–2021, 70 batches (34 imported from mainland China and 36 local) of one/three day old chicks on 11 broiler farms were studied. From each batch, 23 or 24 chicks (1647 in total) were assessed for abnormalities in appearance, navel, crop filling, dehydration, body weight, and length uniformity. Chicks were sacrificed, and yolk sac residues in three day old chicks were measured. Maternally derived antibody levels against Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and avian reovirus (ARV) were measured in all chicks using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of abnormal navel in most batches is high (median: 59%), ranging between 0 and 100%. The average length of chicks within batches ranges between 16.3 and 20.7 cm, and their average weights are 31–38.5 g upon delivery to the farms. On average, imported batches have a higher body weight and length than their local counterparts. The average yolk-free weight varies between 45 and 55 g, which is significantly lower in local batches (33–43 g). The mean antibody titers against NDV and ARV are higher in imported batches than in the local ones. In contrast, the mean antibody titer against IBDV is significantly lower in the imported batches. Concerning the overall lower quality of local chicks compared to the imported batches, establishing a well-managed broiler breeder farm and a hatchery in Hong Kong is highly recommended to enhance the health and productivity of the local broiler chicken industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-553b4b9078634e15aa102ab7b8ab7e58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-553b4b9078634e15aa102ab7b8ab7e582023-11-23T15:14:28ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-06-011212152010.3390/ani12121520Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong KongOmid Nekouei0Denis Yau1Brett MacKinnon2Ioannis Magouras3Anne Conan4Ibrahim Elsohaby5Surya Paudel6Dirk U. Pfeiffer7Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaThe Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice (OHRP), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaThe Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice (OHRP), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaThe present study aimed to investigate the quality of newly hatched broiler chicks delivered to Hong Kong (imported or local), and to develop tailored recommendations to improve their management. During 2019–2021, 70 batches (34 imported from mainland China and 36 local) of one/three day old chicks on 11 broiler farms were studied. From each batch, 23 or 24 chicks (1647 in total) were assessed for abnormalities in appearance, navel, crop filling, dehydration, body weight, and length uniformity. Chicks were sacrificed, and yolk sac residues in three day old chicks were measured. Maternally derived antibody levels against Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and avian reovirus (ARV) were measured in all chicks using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of abnormal navel in most batches is high (median: 59%), ranging between 0 and 100%. The average length of chicks within batches ranges between 16.3 and 20.7 cm, and their average weights are 31–38.5 g upon delivery to the farms. On average, imported batches have a higher body weight and length than their local counterparts. The average yolk-free weight varies between 45 and 55 g, which is significantly lower in local batches (33–43 g). The mean antibody titers against NDV and ARV are higher in imported batches than in the local ones. In contrast, the mean antibody titer against IBDV is significantly lower in the imported batches. Concerning the overall lower quality of local chicks compared to the imported batches, establishing a well-managed broiler breeder farm and a hatchery in Hong Kong is highly recommended to enhance the health and productivity of the local broiler chicken industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1520day-old chickbroilervisual assessmentmaternally derived antibodybiosecurity |
| spellingShingle | Omid Nekouei Denis Yau Brett MacKinnon Ioannis Magouras Anne Conan Ibrahim Elsohaby Surya Paudel Dirk U. Pfeiffer Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong Animals day-old chick broiler visual assessment maternally derived antibody biosecurity |
| title | Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong |
| title_full | Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong |
| title_short | Quality Assessment of Day-Old Chickens on the Broiler Farms of Hong Kong |
| title_sort | quality assessment of day old chickens on the broiler farms of hong kong |
| topic | day-old chick broiler visual assessment maternally derived antibody biosecurity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1520 |
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