Effects of broiler breeder age on the performance, nutrient metabolism, and intestinal histomorphometry of broiler chickens

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of broiler breeder age on the growth performance, nutrient metabolism, and intestinal histomorphometry of the progeny during early life. A total of 180 one-day-old Cobb 500® chicks, with an average initial body weight of 45.82±2.21 g, were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments, six replicates, and 10 birds per replicate. The treatments consisted of chicks derived from broiler breeders aged 39, 51, and 69 weeks. Productive performance, gastrointestinal tract histomorphometry, and nutrient metabolism were evaluated. Chicks originating from older breeders (69 weeks) presented superior growth performance, whereas those from younger breeders (39 weeks) presented greater nutrient metabolism. With respect to intestinal morphology, progeny from older breeders presented more developed intestinal structures at 1 and 21 days of age, whereas at 7 days of age, chicks from younger breeders presented more pronounced intestinal morphometric characteristics. Broiler breeder age influences the early performance, intestinal development, and nutrient metabolism of progeny. Older breeders favor early growth and intestinal maturation, whereas younger breeders enhance protein metabolism, highlighting the relevance of breeder age in early broiler management. These findings provide integrated evidence linking breeder age to growth performance, intestinal development, and nutrient metabolism during early life.