Early feeding with hydrogel nutrients modifies cecal microbiota, immunity, gene expression, and improves growth performance in ostrich chicks.

ABSTRACT: The period extending from the final days of embryonic development until post-hatching is critical for the development of the digestive and immune systems of poultry. Therefore, early feeding programs are used to provide all the nutrients and growth factors necessary to support the maturation and integrity of the digestive system. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of early post-hatch feeding with hydrated nutrient gel (HNG) on growth performance, immune response, cecal microbiota, and gene expression in ostrich chicks. One hundred and fifty African ostrich chicks were divided immediately after hatching into six groups (five replicates per group) as follows: the first group was feed deprived for the first 24 h after hatching (control group, HNG0); the other groups was feed

SUBMITTER: Marzok M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12648593 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature