The effect of age of breeder hens on residual yolk fat, and serum glucose and triglyceride concentrations of day-old broiler chicks.
The fat content and the concentrations of glucose and triglyceride in day-old chicks hatched from 27 and 60 wk-old broiler-breeder hens were determined from pooled samples of residual yolk and blood serum, respectively. Serum glucose and triglyceride levels were unaffected (P greater than .05) by breeder age, although there was a linear (P less than .001; r = .67) relationship between these characteristics and chick weight. Yolk fat, adjusted for chick weight, was on the average 13% greater (P less than .05) in chicks from old breeders than chicks from young breeder hens. Yolk wet weight was not affected (P greater than .05) by breeder age. Results indicate that breeder age may affect chick performance through alterations in the fat content of residual yolk.
Daly
K R
KR
Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, West Virginia University Morgantown 26506-6108.
Peterson
R A
RA
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000032:analysis*; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005223:Fats; D014280:Triglycerides