According to a recent study led by Dr. Vine Christensen, a poultry sciences researcher at North Carolina State University in the U.S., feeding hens with iodine-enriched diets can significantly improve both egg hatchability and chick health. The research found that when hens are given feed supplemented with iodine, the eggs they lay have a higher hatching rate, and the resulting chicks are not only healthier but also grow faster.
In the study, the team added 4% iodine to the hens' feed, which resulted in a 4% increase in hatchability and a 50% improvement in post-hatching survival rates. The growth advantage was particularly noticeable after six days, with the chicks showing more rapid development compared to those from non-iodine-fed hens.
This discovery comes at a time when U.S. geneticists have been exploring ways to enhance turkey growth rates, often through transgenic techniques. However, these methods sometimes lead to developmental imbalances, especially in vital organs like the heart and lungs. As a result, while some turkey embryos may be strong enough to break out of their shells, other essential systems may not develop in sync, leading to lower survival rates among newly hatched chicks.
By incorporating iodine into the hens’ diet, this issue can be mitigated, helping to ensure more balanced and healthy embryonic development. The cost of adding iodine to feed is minimal—just a few cents per ton—which makes it a highly cost-effective solution.
In the U.S., around 300 to 360 million young turkeys are hatched annually. By using iodine-enriched feed for breeding hens, farmers could see significant improvements in hatch rates, survival rates, and reduced mortality. This could save chicken farmers up to $17 million each year, not to mention the added economic benefits from shorter growing times and quicker market readiness of the turkeys.
Squid Food,Frozen Squid,Frozen Squid Tube,Frozen Squid Ring
ZHOUSHAN JING YUAN FOOD CO.,LTD , https://www.genho-food.com