Effect of calcium gluconate injection and post hatch fasting on immune response, mortality and performance in broiler chicks up to day 28 of age

Effects of post-hatch fasting (PHF) and subcutaneous injection of Ca-gluconate (Ca-g) on productive performance, immune response and mortality of broiler chicks were investigated using 640 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks in a 5×2 factorial experiment with five PHF levels (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h) and two Ca-g injection levels (0 and 0.7 ml) in a completely randomized block design in four replicate pens of 16 birds each up to day 28 of age. The extended PFD up to 36 h significantly decreased body weight and percentage of monocytes and increased mortality of the chicks. Injection of Ca-g increased mortality of the birds by six-fold compared with the control birds (P