Subcutaneous Glucose is More Advantageous in Establishing the Posthatch Poult than Oral Administration

Poults have been shown to have low carbohydrate reserve after hatching, and glucose at this time improves early performance. Present experimentation examined the effects of .5 mL of 50% glucose in saline 2 h after subcutaneous injection (s.c.) at the base of the head or given as an oral gavage. Timing of administration and slaughter corresponded to when poults would encounter antibiotic-vitamin injection at the hatchery and the subsequent stress of transportation. Live weight after treatments was greater for poults given s.c. glucose than those untreated, whereas oral dosing led to a loss in weight. This weight loss could be wholly attributed to decreased carcass moisture. The s.c. glucose increased yolk sac resorption, and s.c. and oral glucose improved accretion of crude protein and ether extract by the yolk sac and liver-free carcass. Liver glycogen and blood glucose increased to a greater extent from s.c. than from oral glucose. Loss of body water after oral glucose and the poults' reduced efficacy in improving carbohydrate status might be attributed to an immature intestine.