Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks
From the perspective of animal welfare, freedom from hunger and thirst is an undeniable requirement for the poultry industry. Regulatory mechanisms underlying drinking behavior have not yet been identified in chickens; however, the regulation of osmolality and water intake appears to be closely rela...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Japan Poultry Science Association
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | The Journal of Poultry Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpsa/62/0/62_2025008/_html/-char/en |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823857014748479488 |
|---|---|
| author | Tomoya Matsunami Yuhui Zhang Yuji Taniguchi Sei-ichi Hinomoto Takaoki Saneyasu Hiroshi Kamisoyama Kazuhisa Honda |
| author_facet | Tomoya Matsunami Yuhui Zhang Yuji Taniguchi Sei-ichi Hinomoto Takaoki Saneyasu Hiroshi Kamisoyama Kazuhisa Honda |
| author_sort | Tomoya Matsunami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | From the perspective of animal welfare, freedom from hunger and thirst is an undeniable requirement for the poultry industry. Regulatory mechanisms underlying drinking behavior have not yet been identified in chickens; however, the regulation of osmolality and water intake appears to be closely related. This study clarified whether wet feeding affects appetite, osmolality, and stress-related gene expression in the hypothalami of chicks. In Experiment 1, the effects of different wet feed percentages on the growth of broiler chicks were examined. Wet feeds were prepared by mixing either 0.25 g (20% wet feed), 0.667 g (40% wet feed), or 1.5 g (60% wet feed) of distilled water per g of commercial feed. Then, the wet feeds were offered to 4-day-old broiler chicks until 42 d of age. Forty percent wet feed significantly increased body, breast, and leg weights. In Experiment 2, 7-day-old broiler chicks were given either commercial starter feed or 40% wet feed until 21 d of age. Again, weights of the body, breasts, and legs were significantly increased by wet feeding. The total amount of water loss in the individual waterers was significantly decreased by wet feeding. No significant changes were observed in mRNA levels of the genes encoding appetite-regulatory peptides (neuropeptide Y and α melanocyte-stimulating hormone), osmoregulatory peptides (vasotocin and mesotocin), or stress-related peptides (corticotrophin-releasing factor) in the chicken hypothalamus. Overall, 40% wet feed improved growth without inducing thirst or hunger in broiler chicks. These findings suggest that wet feeding contributes to both meat yield and animal welfare during broiler production. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c54d50a918ab49938c7d3b50e491c2ff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1346-7395 1349-0486 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Japan Poultry Science Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-c54d50a918ab49938c7d3b50e491c2ff2025-02-12T05:23:29ZengJapan Poultry Science AssociationThe Journal of Poultry Science1346-73951349-04862025-02-0162010.2141/jpsa.2025008jpsaWet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler ChicksTomoya Matsunami0Yuhui Zhang1Yuji Taniguchi2Sei-ichi Hinomoto3Takaoki Saneyasu4Hiroshi Kamisoyama5Kazuhisa Honda61 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan1 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan2 Technical Section, Nakajima Seisakusho Co., Ltd., 388-8004, Japan2 Technical Section, Nakajima Seisakusho Co., Ltd., 388-8004, Japan1 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan1 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan1 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, JapanFrom the perspective of animal welfare, freedom from hunger and thirst is an undeniable requirement for the poultry industry. Regulatory mechanisms underlying drinking behavior have not yet been identified in chickens; however, the regulation of osmolality and water intake appears to be closely related. This study clarified whether wet feeding affects appetite, osmolality, and stress-related gene expression in the hypothalami of chicks. In Experiment 1, the effects of different wet feed percentages on the growth of broiler chicks were examined. Wet feeds were prepared by mixing either 0.25 g (20% wet feed), 0.667 g (40% wet feed), or 1.5 g (60% wet feed) of distilled water per g of commercial feed. Then, the wet feeds were offered to 4-day-old broiler chicks until 42 d of age. Forty percent wet feed significantly increased body, breast, and leg weights. In Experiment 2, 7-day-old broiler chicks were given either commercial starter feed or 40% wet feed until 21 d of age. Again, weights of the body, breasts, and legs were significantly increased by wet feeding. The total amount of water loss in the individual waterers was significantly decreased by wet feeding. No significant changes were observed in mRNA levels of the genes encoding appetite-regulatory peptides (neuropeptide Y and α melanocyte-stimulating hormone), osmoregulatory peptides (vasotocin and mesotocin), or stress-related peptides (corticotrophin-releasing factor) in the chicken hypothalamus. Overall, 40% wet feed improved growth without inducing thirst or hunger in broiler chicks. These findings suggest that wet feeding contributes to both meat yield and animal welfare during broiler production.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpsa/62/0/62_2025008/_html/-char/enchickenfeed intakeneuropeptideswater intakewet feed |
| spellingShingle | Tomoya Matsunami Yuhui Zhang Yuji Taniguchi Sei-ichi Hinomoto Takaoki Saneyasu Hiroshi Kamisoyama Kazuhisa Honda Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks The Journal of Poultry Science chicken feed intake neuropeptides water intake wet feed |
| title | Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks |
| title_full | Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks |
| title_fullStr | Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks |
| title_short | Wet Feeding Promotes Growth without Affecting Hypothalamic Peptide Gene Expression in Growing Broiler Chicks |
| title_sort | wet feeding promotes growth without affecting hypothalamic peptide gene expression in growing broiler chicks |
| topic | chicken feed intake neuropeptides water intake wet feed |
| url | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpsa/62/0/62_2025008/_html/-char/en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomoyamatsunami wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT yuhuizhang wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT yujitaniguchi wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT seiichihinomoto wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT takaokisaneyasu wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT hiroshikamisoyama wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks AT kazuhisahonda wetfeedingpromotesgrowthwithoutaffectinghypothalamicpeptidegeneexpressioningrowingbroilerchicks |