Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of hatching weight (HW) on the growth, immunity and oxidative status of broilers for 21 d. Male chicks (Arbor Acres) were divided into 2 groups according to HW (51.30 ± 0.21 and 42.97 ± 0.11 g, respectively), each of which consisted of 8 replicates of 12 birds. Chicks with high HW exhibited heavier body weight in the first two weeks (P<0.05). Concentrations of total protein (TP), globulin (GLB) and albumin (ALB) were higher in broilers with heavier HW at d 14, 14 and 7, respectively (P<0.05). At d 7, heavier chick exhibited a higher liver glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio (P<0.05), which may result from simultaneously decreased GSSG content (P=0.092). Meanwhile, a trend for decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (P=0.055) and total corticosterone (COR) content (P=0.086) was observed in heavier chicks. In addition, heavier chicks tended to have a higher serum GSH content at d 21 (P=0.063). A higher HW would exert a significant effect on the body weight and oxidative status of broilers but not on nutrient digestibility and immune function at immediate posthatch, which then gradually disappeared as birds grew older.
