How broiler super pre-starter diets impact bird growth

Opinions differ on the ability of a diet fed only for a few days to improve growth throughout the broiler lifecycle. | danchooalex, iStockPhoto

By targeting the needs of the young chick, its performance can be improved, but the investment needs to make overall economic sense

Because the first three to five days of a broiler’s life represents 10 percent of its lifespan, a good diet right from the start is very important. What a broiler eats in its first few days can affect its future performance.

A diet fed to broiler chicks for the first four days is often referred to as a super pre-starter. As for standard starter diets, highly digestible ingredients are selected, but high-quality, high-value raw materials are used, more than doubling their cost. Different sources of protein, fats and carbohydrates will be used – for example soy protein isolates. They will have specific vitamin, mineral and amino acid specifications. Functional ingredients are also often included to offer benefits such as antioxidant protection.

The primary aim of a super pre-starter ration is to fulfill the specific nutritional needs of the young chick, supporting its transition from being fed by the yolk sac to the first diet consumed. Availability of nutrients immediately after hatch is critical for growth and development.

Good intestinal development is essential in young birds for optimal growth and is related to immune function. The digestive system of the bird at hatch has limited ability to digest and absorb nutrients. It is therefore vital to provide a diet that contains highly digestible and available nutrients. The metabolizable energy and amino acid digestibility of grains are lower in young birds, and indigestible nutrients can serve as substrate for undesirable gut microorganisms.

The aims of a broiler super pre-starter are to promote gut development, support the immune system, and provide antioxidant protection.