Does in-transit feeding of day-old chicks enhance potato peel meal utilization? Impact on transport stress, gastrointestinal organ weight and performance in broilers

The use of waste-derived feed ingredients to support sustainable poultry production has gained increasing attention. The potential of incorporating potato peels, an agro-industrial by-product, into broiler feed remains unexplored. Study 1 (preliminary study) evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion (0% vs. 10%) of potato peel meal (PP) with or without a multi-carbohydrase (E1) supplementation on growth performance of Cobb 500 broilers from d 14 to 33 of age in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (n=6). Incorporating 10% PP into diets suppressed growth and increased gizzard weight (P ≤ 0.05) compared to those fed 0% PP. Building on these findings, Study 2 was conducted to investigate whether the negative effects on growth could be mitigated by reducing PP inclusion level, supplementing a modified multi-carbohydrase (E2) and providing nutrients during transportation. A total of 624 newly-hatched Ross 308 chicks were assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design (n=3) with two in-transit feeding practices (AFW: access to feed and water during transportation vs. NFW: no access to feed and water) and four dietary treatments including: 0% PP (control), 5% PP, 5% PP+E2, and 10% PP+E2, which were provided ad libitum from d 1 to 33. AFW improved chick quality (P ≤ 0.05) with an increased body weight gain, higher cloaca temperature, and lower plasma corticosterone level post-transportation. In addition, AFW increased body weight and reduced mortality by d 8 of age (P ≤ 0.05). Regardless of in-transit feeding, broilers fed 10% PP+E2 or 5% PP exhibited comparable body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR to those fed control diet. Among AFW birds, 5% PP+E2 improved FCR (P ≤ 0.05) compared with 5% PP and 10% PP+E2 during d 26-33 of age. These findings suggest that PP can be included up to 10% when supplemented with E2 without compromising growth performance. Furthermore, the in-transit feeding practice alleviates transportation stress, supports early growth and enhances FCR in birds fed moderate levels of PP with enzyme supplementation.