{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T16:59:12Z","timestamp":1782233952199,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012331","name":"VLAIO","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["HBC.2021.1063"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HBC.2021.1063"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012331","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Early posthatch nutrition is an important factor influencing broiler health and welfare. This study investigated the effects of delayed access to feed on production and health-related outcomes in slower-growing Hubbard Redbro broilers throughout the production cycle. Three treatments were tested: T0 (immediate access to feed), T24 (24\u2009h delay), and T48 (48\u2009h delay). Physiological, morphological, and welfare-related outcomes were assessed through plasma corticosterone (CORTp), bone measurements, skeletal fluctuating asymmetry (FA), gait score, litter moisture, and femur head necrosis (FHN). Delayed posthatch feeding altered CORTp dynamics in a time-dependent manner. On d 2, T48 birds tended to have lower CORTp compared to T0 (P\u2009=\u20090.068) and T24 (P\u2009=\u20090.089), while this pattern reversed on d 3, with T0 birds showing elevated corticosterone compared to both T24 (P\u2009=\u20090.013) and T48 (P\u2009=\u20090.005). Humerus length was reduced in the T48 group (P\u2009=\u20090.002), and the composite FA index followed a non-linear pattern, with the lowest asymmetry in T24 and the highest in T48. No differences were found in gait score, litter moisture, or FHN. Overall, delayed posthatch feeding had measurable short-term physiological and long-term morphological effects, but did not compromise welfare-related indicators by the end of the production cycle.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/jas\/skag182","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T11:35:22Z","timestamp":1781004922000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Delayed posthatch feeding alters stress physiology and skeletal development in on-farm hatched slower-growing broiler chickens"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"104","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-2537-2889","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rutger","family":"Smets","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camila L","family":"Carvalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3724-5488","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Niamh","family":"Cleiren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-0825-6250","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patricia","family":"Soster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8881-0707","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Evelyne","family":"Delezie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO) Animal Sciences Unit, ,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4381-8200","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta","family":"Louren\u00e7o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO) Animal Sciences Unit, ,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6902-5666","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marc","family":"Cherlet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0462-3638","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luc","family":"Duchateau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biometrics Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1348-218X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Frank A M","family":"Tuyttens","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO) Animal Sciences Unit, ,","place":["Belgium"]},{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8832-1498","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gunther","family":"Antonissen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke-Melle, 9820,","place":["Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ygcen.2012.04.032","article-title":"Maternal corticosterone is transferred into the egg yolk","volume":"178","author":"Almasi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Gen Comp Endocrinol"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933906001085","article-title":"Welfare of broilers: a review","volume":"62","author":"Bessei","year":"2006","journal-title":"Worlds Poult Sci J"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3568","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2012-5141","article-title":"Cage size and enrichment effects on the bone quality and fluctuating asymmetry of fattening rabbits","volume":"90","author":"Buijs","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Anim Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B4","volume-title":"Welfare Quality\u00ae assessment protocol for poultry","author":"Butterworth","year":"2009"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"jeb182600","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.182600","article-title":"Evidence of embryonic regulation of maternally derived yolk corticosterone","volume":"221","author":"Carter","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Exp Biol"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101795","DOI":"10.1016\/j.animal.2026.101795","article-title":"Effects of enrichment and heat stress on fluctuating asymmetry and feather structure of broiler chickens","volume":"20","author":"Carvalho","year":"2026","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.3382\/japr.2013-00803","article-title":"Wet litter not only induces footpad dermatitis but also reduces overall welfare, technical performance, and carcass yield in broiler chickens","volume":"23","author":"de Jong","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Appl Poult Res"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0189350","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0189350","article-title":"A meta-analysis of effects of post-hatch food and water deprivation on development, performance and welfare of chickens","volume":"12","author":"de Jong","year":"2017","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"743","DOI":"10.3390\/cells11040743","article-title":"Role of dietary supplements and probiotics in modulating microbiota and bone health: the gut\u2013bone axis","volume":"11","author":"de Sire","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cells."},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B10","author":"European Chicken Commitment","year":"2026"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B11","first-page":"33","article-title":"Directive 2010\/63\/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes","volume":"276","author":"European Parliament and Council","year":"2010","journal-title":"Off J Eur Union L"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1590\/S1516-635X2008000400010","article-title":"Productive consequences of fasting neonatal chicks of different genetic constitutions for growing","volume":"10","author":"Gonzales","year":"2008","journal-title":"Rev Bras Cienc Avic"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2367","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-38817-y","article-title":"Effects of commercial hatchery processing on short- and long-term stress responses in laying hens","volume":"9","author":"Hedlund","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2176","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2019.11.034","article-title":"Changes to Cobb 500 chick characteristics, bone ash, and residual yolk mineral reserves during time spent in the hatcher","volume":"99","author":"Hopcroft","year":"2020","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1085","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-023-03137-4","article-title":"A comparison of maceration methods for the preparation of infant skeletal remains for forensic anthropological analysis","volume":"138","author":"Keyes","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Legal Med"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"398","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2007.02.014","article-title":"Fluctuating asymmetry as an animal welfare indicator: A review of methodology and validity","volume":"92","author":"Knierim","year":"2007","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1545","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0001545","article-title":"Leg disorders in broiler chickens: prevalence, risk factors and prevention","volume":"3","author":"Knowles","year":"2008","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B18","unstructured":"Kundu SK, Rocky ZH, Al Maruf AT, Chowdhory MA, Sayeed A. \u00a02023. Preparation of quail (Coturnix coturnix) skeleton to promote the teaching facilities of avian anatomy laboratory. Int J Vet Anim Res. 6:91\u201395. 10.5281\/zenodo.10442793"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"757","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13040757","article-title":"Gut\u2013X axis and its role in poultry bone health: a review","volume":"13","author":"Lu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Microorganisms."},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103366","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2023.103366","article-title":"Impact of early posthatch feeding on the immune system and selected hematological, biochemical, and hormonal parameters in broiler chickens","volume":"103","author":"Madej","year":"2024","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"611","DOI":"10.5194\/aab-51-611-2008","article-title":"Asymmetry measures and allometric growth parameter estimates to investigate the effect of early feed restriction on deviation from bilateral symmetry in broiler chickens","volume":"51","author":"Mendes","year":"2008","journal-title":"Arch Anim Breed"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"794","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731117001938","article-title":"Incubation and hatch management: consequences for bone mineralization in Cobb 500 meat chickens","volume":"12","author":"Muir","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.17226\/20608","volume-title":"A guide to environmental research on animals","author":"NRC","year":"1971"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1637\/11082-040715-Review.1","article-title":"Poultry femoral head separation and necrosis: a review","volume":"59","author":"Packialakshmi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Avian Dis"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B25","first-page":"57","article-title":"Fluctuating asymmetry as a measure of developmental stability: Implications of non-normal distributions and power of statistical test","volume":"191","author":"Palmer","year":"1992","journal-title":"Acta Zool Fenn"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1051\/animres:19990401","article-title":"A behavioural approach to feeding broilers","volume":"48","author":"Picard","year":"1999","journal-title":"Ann Zootech"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B27","first-page":"239","article-title":"Stress response in feed-restricted domestic fowl with dietary supplementation of several additives that act against stress","volume":"75","author":"Prieto","year":"2011","journal-title":"Arch Gefl\u00fcgelkd"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1363992","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2024.1363992","article-title":"Potential non-invasive detection of lesions in broiler femur heads: application of the DXA imaging system","volume":"15","author":"Ramser","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"795","DOI":"10.1359\/jbmr.1997.12.5.795","article-title":"New aspects of endochondral ossification in the chick: chondrocyte apoptosis, bone formation by former chondrocytes, and acid phosphatase activity in the endochondral bone matrix","volume":"12","author":"Roach","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Bone Miner Res"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1079\/9780851989242.0000","volume-title":"The development of brain and behaviour in the chicken","author":"Rogers","year":"1995"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1790","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2011-01968","article-title":"The effects of growth rate on leg morphology and tibia breaking strength, mineral density, mineral content, and bone ash in broilers","volume":"91","author":"Shim","year":"2012","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-025-05275-w","article-title":"Measuring feather and plasma corticosterone in male broiler chickens: UPLC\u2013MS\/MS methodology and feather growth dynamics","volume":"22","author":"Soster","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res."},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2022.2105648","article-title":"Ordinal or visual analogue scales for assessing aspects of broiler chicken welfare?","volume":"27","author":"Souza","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Appl Anim Welf Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100953","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2020.12.050","article-title":"Day-old chicken quality and performance of broiler chickens from three different hatching systems","volume":"100","author":"Souza da Silva","year":"2021","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/83.3.507","article-title":"Comparison of embryo physiological parameters during incubation, chick quality, and growth performance of three lines of broiler breeders differing in genetic composition and growth rate","volume":"83","author":"Tona","year":"2004","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2012-02509","article-title":"Embryonic development and the physiological factors that coordinate hatching in domestic chickens","volume":"92","author":"Tong","year":"2013","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600026142","article-title":"Measures of developmental instability as integrated, a posteriori indicators of farm animal welfare: a review","volume":"12","author":"Tuyttens","year":"2003","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600000804","article-title":"Reliability of categorical versus continuous scoring of welfare indicators: Lameness in cows as a case study","volume":"18","author":"Tuyttens","year":"2009","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2019.11.041","article-title":"A review on yolk sac utilization in poultry","volume":"99","author":"van der Wagt","year":"2020","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"525","DOI":"10.1637\/11223-063015-Review.1","article-title":"Relationship of skeletal muscle development and growth to breast muscle myopathies: a review","volume":"59","author":"Velleman","year":"2015","journal-title":"Avian Dis"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1568","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10091568","article-title":"Effects of first feed administration on small intestinal development and plasma hormones in broiler chicks","volume":"10","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7510","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2022.2047005","article-title":"The regulative effect and repercussion of probiotics and prebiotics on osteoporosis: Involvement of the brain\u2013gut\u2013bone axis","volume":"63","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"2026062312382333300_skag182-B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2013-03551","article-title":"Delayed feeding after hatch caused compensatory increases in blood glucose concentration in fed chicks from low but not high body weight lines","volume":"93","author":"Zhao","year":"2014","journal-title":"Poult Sci"}],"container-title":["Journal of Animal Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jas\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jas\/skag182\/68502007\/skag182.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jas\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jas\/skag182\/68502007\/skag182.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jas\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jas\/skag182\/68502007\/skag182.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,23]],"date-time":"2026-06-23T16:38:35Z","timestamp":1782232715000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jas\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/jas\/skag182\/8704794"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"references-count":43,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jas\/skag182","relation":{},"ISSN":["0021-8812","1525-3163"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0021-8812","type":"print"},{"value":"1525-3163","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"article-number":"skag182"}}