Optimum feed composition of broiler breeder diets to maximise progeny performance

Recent research to define a measure of chick quality has evaluated the effects of incubation conditions, breeder age and genotype on progeny growth and survival. Nutritional research has focused on defining the optimum concentration of maternal dietary nutrients for progeny growth, mortality and immune status. There is a research requirement to bring these two areas together to better understand optimum maternal nutrition for maximum chick quality. Recent research suggests that nutritional concentrations for vitamin D are higher for optimum progeny performance than for egg production. Research also suggests that increased breeder dietary concentrations of zinc, manganese and selenium may benefit progeny performance. Low energy density diets improved progeny growth in young broiler breeders and liveability in offspring of older broiler breeders. There is evidence that different broiler breeder genotypes may have different responses to maternal nutrient concentrations. Further research to quantify the relationships between broiler growth, mortality and immune status in relation to maternal dietary nutrient concentrations in different broiler breeder genotypes is warranted.