Technical Bulletin: Evaluation of AquaBeads® Supplementation on First-Week Mortality and Growth in Broiler Chicks

Background

The first week of a broiler chick's life is critical for establishing strong growth and health. Early access to nutrition and hydration plays a vital role in improving survival rates and promoting optimal development. AquaBeads®, a proprietary gel-based hydration and feed attractant technology, offers a novel solution to support chicks during this crucial period. This study, conducted at Mississippi State University, evaluates the effect of AquaBeads® supplementation on first-week mortality and growth performance in broiler chicks.

Experimental Design

The trial was conducted in two broiler tunnel houses (42' x 400') at Mississippi State University, each housing approximately 18,300 ROSS 708 broiler chicks. Eight replicate pens per treatment group were established using wire dividers, with approximately 2,300 chicks per pen.

AquaBeads® were applied to experimental pens at a rate of 1.05 grams per chick, distributed evenly across feed trays and jumbo lids. The beads were drained and placed atop the feed one hour prior to chick placement. Mortality was recorded daily, and weights from 300 chicks (13% of each pen) were measured at placement and day 7 to assess growth performance. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM as a one-way ANOVA in SAS 9.4, with outliers removed using Cook’s D.

Results

Birds receiving AquaBeads® supplementation exhibited a numerically lower first-week mortality compared to the control group, though the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.0715). By day 7, AquaBeads®-treated birds displayed numerically higher average body weights than those in the control group (P=0.1119). However, there were no significant differences observed in 7-day body weight gain (P=0.1840) or average daily gain (P=0.1840). These findings suggest that AquaBeads® supplementation may reduce early mortality and support improved body weights in broiler chicks, though further replication and larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm these trends.

TABLE 1: Effect of HGB Supplementation on 7-Day Mortality

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential of AquaBeads® supplementation to improve early-life survival and growth metrics in broiler chicks. While statistical significance was not reached in this trial, the observed trends suggest AquaBeads® may be beneficial for enhancing first-week outcomes. Further research with increased replication is recommended to validate these results in commercial settings.