Influence of pre-storage incubation on hatchability traits, thyroid hormones, antioxidative status and immunity of newly hatched chicks at two chicken breeder flock ages

Effects of Supplementing Selenium-Enriched Cardamine violifolia to Laying Hens on Egg Quality and Yolk Antioxidant Capacity during Storage at 4 °C and 25 °C

Oxidative stress occurs in the process of egg storage. Antioxidants as feed additives can enhance egg quality and extend the shelf life of eggs. Selenium-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SEC) has strongly antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary supplementation with SEC on egg quality and the yolk antioxidant capacity of eggs stored at 4 °C and 25 °C. Four hundred fifty 65-week-old, Roman hens that were similar in laying rate (90.79 ± 1.69%) and body weight (2.19 ± 0.23 kg) were divided into 5 groups. The birds were fed diets supplemented with 0 mg/kg selenium (Se) (CON), 0.3 mg/kg Se from sodium selenite (SS), 0.3 mg/kg Se from Se-enriched yeast (SEY), 0.3 mg/kg Se for selenium-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SEC) or 0.3 mg/kg Se from Se-enriched Cardamine violifolia and 0.3 mg/kg Se from Se-enriched yeast (SEC + SEY) for 8 weeks. The eggs were collected on the 8th week and were analyzed for egg quality and oxidative stability of yolk during storage at 4 °C or 25 °C for 0, 2, 4, or 6 weeks. Dietary SEC and SEC + SEY supplementation increased the Haugh unit (HU) and albumen foam stability in eggs stored at 4 °C and 25 °C (p < 0.05). SS and SEC supplementation increased the yolk index in eggs stored at 25 °C (p < 0.05). SEC or SEC + SEY slowed down an increase in albumen pH and gel firmness in eggs stored at 4 °C and 25 °C (p < 0.05). Moreover, SEC or SEC + SEY alleviated the increase in malonaldehyde (MDA), and the decrease in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in yolks stored at 4 °C and 25 °C (p < 0.05). These results indicate that SEC mitigated egg quality loss and improved the antioxidant capacity of yolks during storage. SEC supplementation would be advantageous to extend the shelf life of eggs.

Hepatic heat shock proteins, antioxidant-related genes, and immunocompetence of heat-stressed broilers in response to short periods of incubation during egg storage and thermal conditioning

Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage (SPIDES) approach improves chick quality and hatching rates. Also, embryonic thermal conditioning (TC) is a strategy for enhancing thermotolerance in avian species. Until now, evaluating the effect of either SPIDES or embryonic TC effects has only been separately conducted, so we hypothesized that combining TC and SPIDES may enhance the response of broilers to thermal stress. Eight hundred Ross broiler eggs were divided into two groups; the first one was kept under appropriate storage room conditions, S0 (control) The 2nd was subjected to SPIDES for 5 h at 37.8 ○C ± 0.1 three times at days 5, 10, and 15 (S1) after egg collection respectively. On the 14th day of incubation (DOI) each of the two main groups was randomly divided into two equal subgroups; the control one was left under the appropriate incubation settings (TC0) whereas the other received prenatal heat conditioning (TC1) at 39.5 ○C ± 0.1 for 6 h/d from the 14th to the 18th embryonic day (E), resulting finally in four experimental subgroups (S0TC0, S1TC0, S0TC1 & S1TC1). RESULTS: showed that SPIDES treatment improved the hatchability of the stored eggs by almost 20% compared to untreated eggs. A combination of SPIDES and TC (S1TC1) increased significantly the levels of Immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) production at hatch and heat-stressed birds. Our findings revealed that the hepatic heat shock proteins (hsp70, 90 A,90 B, 60 and hspA9), antioxidants-related genes (CAT, and SOD2), and NADPH4 were significantly downregulated in the thermally conditioned group that challenged with thermal stress conditions. As opposed to that, the SPIDES group showed a significant increase in hepatic heat shock proteins, antioxidants-related genes, and NADPH4 when subjected to thermal-stress conditions. In conclusion, the combination of SPIDES and TC has a positive effect on some pre and post-hatch traits of broiler chicks. Under heat stress challenge, thermal conditioning can modify the expression of antioxidant-related genes and Hsps, leading to the enhanced acquisition of thermotolerance as evidenced by lower expression of Hsps and NADPH4. While SPIDES does not have a significant role in thermotolerance acquisition.

The effect of storage periods and SPIDES on embryonic mortality, hatching characteristics, and quality of newly hatched chicks in broiler eggs

Egg storage duration can affect embryo mortality, hatching characteristics, hatching time, and post-hatch chick quality. In order to assess these effects, the impact of storage duration (5 days, 10 days, 15 days) and short incubation period during egg storage (SPIDES) investigated further 18, 900 eggs of broiler breeder (ROSS 308) in 3 × 2 factorial arrangement design. In the SPIDES treatment, the egg shell temperature was raised from its storage temperature (18 °C) and held at 100 °F for 3.5 h. Storage periods could significantly (P < 0.05) influence on embryo mortality (total, early, middle, and late), hatchability of both the total eggs and fertile eggs. The SPIDES treatment had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on a lower embryonic death rate and improved egg hatchability. Eggs stored for 5 days and eggs treated with SPIDES significantly (P < 0.001) shorten hatching time, batch’s 90% hatching time (T 90% H), mean hatching time (MHT), maximal hatching period (MHP), and hatching window (HW). Chick quality was also determined, whereas storing eggs for 5 days and using the SPIDES treatment resulted in enhanced (P < 0.001) chick weight relative to egg weight (CW/EW), activity (AC), and chick quality score (CQS). The residual yolk sac weight (RYSW), unhealed navel (UHN %), and dirty feather (DF%) recorded the lowest (P < 0.001) values compared to long storage periods and control group. Finally, stored for 5 days treated by SPIDES positively affected the hatchability characteristics, the shortening hatching time, and the quality of chicks. Regarding the results, it was confirmed that using the SPIDES treatment to prevent the harmful effects of broiler eggs being stored for an extended period of time is a viable option.

Effect of Hydrogen Oxide-Induced Oxidative Stress on Bone Formation in the Early Embryonic Development Stage of Chicken

The current study aimed to monitor the impact of H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress on avian bone formation during the early stage of embryonic development. Fertilized Cobb broiler eggs were divided into five treatment groups and micro-injected with varying concentrations of H₂O₂, i.e., control (PBS; 0 nM), 10 nM, 30 nM, 100 nM, and 300 nM, on embryonic day 3, with continued incubation thereafter. The treatment concentrations were selected based on the level of lipid peroxidation and the survival rate of embryo. Embryos were collected at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-injection. The mRNA expression levels of apoptotic markers, antioxidant enzymes, and early bone formation gene markers were measured. The results showed that the microinjection of H₂O₂ altered the expression pattern of antioxidant enzymes' mRNA during early embryogenesis and decreased the expression of COL1A2 and COL2A1 at 6 h and 24 h post-injection. Decreased expression of BMP, BGLAP, and RUNX2 was observed 48 h post-injection. Additionally, a shorter embryo length was observed in the 100 nM and 300 nM H₂O₂ treatment groups 72 h post-injection. In conclusion, H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress suppressed the expression of bone formation gene markers, with chronic effects on avian embryonic development.

Effect of Radioimmunoassay on Accuracy of Thyroid Hormone Detection

At present, the most important method for the detection of thyroid hormones in hospitals in China is radioimmunoassay. Besides radioimmunoassay, there are blood test and antibody test methods for thyroid hormone detection. However, after long-term clinical investigations, the accuracy of the results of thyroid hormone detection by radioimmunoassay has been affected by many factors. Possible influencing factors include inaccurate thyroid hormone test results due to improper way of blood collection by nurses and improper way of keeping and transporting blood samples by nurses. Therefore, this paper analyzes and discusses the influencing factors of the accuracy of thyroid hormone (T4) detection by radioimmunoassay technology. In this paper, we conducted research using statistical analysis of clinical data, improved separation methods for quality control in the laboratory, and blood specimen collection methods. Radioimmunoassay occurs with antibodies. Of the 10 batches of 964 cases in the improved separation methods for quality control in the laboratory, 154 mismatched items accounted for 16%, and the error of method and operation only accounted for 5.8% of unmatched specimens, most of which were the biochemical characteristics and clinical manifestations of thyroid hormones. The blood sample collection method research found that mild hemolysis had no significant effect on the measurement results, severe hemolysis had a tendency to affect the results, and blood collection tubes had no effect on the test results. Mild hemolysis refers to the increase in the rate of red blood cell destruction due to various internal and external factors in the body. The symptoms when mild hemolysis occurs are generally not obvious. Severe hemolysis refers to a disease caused by blood group incompatibility, mainly referring to immune hemolysis caused by blood group incompatibility between mother and baby, as well as severe jaundice or severe anemia. The statistical analysis of clinical data found that, among 160 patients, the reasons for the inaccuracy of T4 results using radioimmunoassay technology were as follows: 104 patients were inaccurate due to personal factors, and the results were due to hospital factors. A total of 56 patients had inaccurate results. During the measurement of thyroid hormone, it will be affected by many factors. For this reason, the influencing factors of the accuracy of radioimmunoassay should be clarified, and appropriate measures should be taken to deal with it, so as to give full play to the role of radioimmunoassay and improve the detection.

Storage Temperature or Thermal Treatments During Long Egg Storage Duration Influences Hatching Performance and Chick Quality

This study was designed to improve the hatching performance, chick robustness and poultry health in the event of long-term egg storage and suboptimal age of the reproductive flock. A total of 9,600 eggs from one young breeder flock (28 weeks of age, batch B) and 9,600 eggs from an older breeder flock (59 weeks of age, batch E) were used (ROSS 308). Each batch was separated into three sub-groups and stored for 14 days. The first sub-group of eggs (Cool, group C) was stored at 11.6°C. The second sub-group of eggs (Warm, group W) was stored at 18.3°C with two pre-incubation on days 6 and 10 of the storage period. The final sub-group of eggs (Control, group Ct) was stored at 18.3°C throughout the storage period. Eggs were similarly incubated and hatched birds were raised on the same experimental farm. In both batches, embryonic development was significantly more advanced in W eggs than in C and Ct eggs ( p < 0.01). In both batches, C and W treatments decreased early embryonic mortality by more than 10% compared with Ct, decreased the proportion of late-hatched chicks and improved the percentage of first grade chicks: in batch E, 42% of Ct eggs were first grade chicks vs. 57% in group W and 59% in group C. Benefits were even higher in batch B, where only 60% of Ct eggs gave first grade chicks vs. 83% in others groups. The hatching rate was thus higher in groups C and W regardless of flock age: for batch B eggs, 85% hatched in W and 84% in C vs. 62% in Ct, while for batch E eggs, 59% hatched in W and 61% in C vs. 45% in Ct. Day-old Ct chicks from batch E were heavier than W and C ones, and heavier than W chicks from batch B ( p < 0.05). Long-term parameters on farm were not significantly different between groups. Thermal treatments during the storage of eggs from both young and old breeder flocks counterbalance the negative effects of prolonged egg storage on hatching rate, without altering chicken performance during rearing.

Research Note: Effects of preincubation and higher initiating incubation temperature of long-term stored hatching eggs on hatchability and day-old chick and yolk sac weight

We studied the effect of increased initial incubation temperature and repeated preincubation of 35-d stored eggs from 46-week-old Ross 308 parental stock on the hatchability and day-old chick and yolk sac weight. Two different temperatures were applied during the first 36 h and they were combined with 4 preincubation treatments during storage. One half of the hatching eggs (2,400) were incubated for the first 36 h at an incubation temperature of 38.3°C, and the second half were incubated at a higher temperature of 39.2°C. Four different preincubations were applied; none, once at the 7th d of hatching egg storage, twice at the 7th and 12th d of storage and 3 times at the 7th, 12th and 19th d of storage. Both preincubation and increased temperature had negative effects on hatchability (P < 0.001). The interaction between these 2 factors was also significant (P < 0.05). These 2 factors also negatively affected early and late embryonic mortality (P < 0.001). However, middle embryonic mortality was not influenced. Live weight, weight of residual yolk sac, and yolk sac proportion were not affected by repeated preincubation nor by increased temperature over the first 36 h of incubation (P > 0.05). A higher initial temperature decreased chick yolk free body mass (P < 0.05). Although neither increased initial temperature in the setter nor repeated preincubation affected one-day-old chick weights, these treatments were not suitable for long-term stored eggs because of decreased hatchability and impairment of one day chick yolk free body mass.

Effects of Maternal and Progeny Dietary Vitamin E on Growth Performance and Antioxidant Status of Progeny Chicks before and after Egg Storage

Simple Summary

Prolonged egg storage duration has been indicated to decrease the quality of hatchlings and the growth performance of offspring. Maternal nutrition plays a vital role in growth of chicks post-hatch. However, no work has been performed to evaluate whether or not maternal nutrition could improve the growth performance of offspring hatched from stored eggs. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of maternal and progeny dietary vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance and antioxidant status of offspring before and after egg storage. Our results showed that maternal dietary vitamin E (VE) supplementation of 200 or 400 mg/kg could improve the growth performance and antioxidant status of offspring hatched from stored eggs, but not for that of offspring hatched from unstored eggs. These findings suggested that maternal dietary vitamin E was beneficial to improve the quality of long-term storage eggs.

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to investigate the effects of maternal and progeny dietary vitamin E (VE) supplementation on the growth performance and antioxidant status of offspring before and after egg storage. A total of 576 75-week-old Ross 308 breeder hens were assigned to three dietary VE treatments (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) with 6 replicates of 32 hens for 12 weeks. Two trials were conducted with offspring hatched from eggs laid at weeks 9 and 12 of breeder feeding trial, respectively. Trial 1 was conducted by a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with three levels of maternal dietary VE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and two levels of progeny dietary VE (0 and 35 mg/kg). Trial 2 was conducted with three maternal dietary VE treatment (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), and chicks were hatched from eggs stored for 14 d and received the same progeny diet with no addition of VE. Results showed that in trial 1, maternal (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and progeny (0 and 35 mg/kg) dietary VE supplementation did not affect the growth performance of offspring hatched from unstored eggs (p > 0.05). In trial 2, in the case of long-term egg storage, maternal dietary VE supplementation of 200 and 400 mg/kg increased the body weight (BW) of 21- and 42-d-old offspring and the body weight gain (BWG) of offspring from 1 to 21 d (p < 0.05), and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of offspring from 1 to 21 d (p < 0.05) compared to 100 mg/kg VE. As the maternal dietary VE levels increased, the liver and serum antioxidant status of offspring enhanced (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal dietary VE supplementation of 200 or 400 mg/kg could improve the growth performance and anti-oxidant status of offspring hatched from stored eggs, but not for that of offspring hatched from unstored eggs. The suitable VE level for the broiler breeder diet was 400 mg/kg in the case of long-term egg storage.

Effects of flock age, storage temperature, and short period of incubation during egg storage, on the albumen quality, embryonic development and hatchability of long stored eggs

1. The effect of breeder flock age, storage temperature and a short period of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) on albumen quality, development of blastoderm, and hatchability of long-stored eggs was evaluated.2. Hatching eggs were collected from 28-week-old (young) and 40-week-old (prime) Ross female line grandparent flocks and were stored for 14 d at 12, 15 or 18°C. During storage, the eggs were either kept continuously in the storage room (control) or were subjected to SPIDES treatment.3. Embryonic development was more advanced in eggs from the prime flock, exposed to SPIDES and warmer (18°C) storage temperature (P ≤ 0.05). There was a difference in the albumen pH for flock ages (P < 0.05), but the SPIDES treatment did not affect albumen height and pH (P > 0.05). On d 14 of storage, albumen pH was positively (P < 0.05) correlated with storage temperature. Hatchability was higher in the prime flock (P < 0.05).4. At both flock ages, hatchability increased (P < 0.05) by storing the eggs at 15°C, compared to 18°C, with 12°C intermediate. The hatchability improvement was due to reduced early embryonic mortality.5. The SPIDES treatment decreased late embryonic mortality and the percentage of second-grade chicks (P < 0.05), which increased the hatchability of fertile eggs (P < 0.05). SPIDES only reduced (P < 0.05) early embryonic mortality in eggs stored at 18°C.6. The highest hatchability was observed in the eggs stored at 15°C and exposed to one SPIDES treatment during 14 d storage.

The impacts of egg storage time and maternal dietary vitamin E on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of progeny chicks

Two trials were designed to investigate the impacts of egg storage time and maternal dietary vitamin E (VE) supplementation on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of progeny chicks. In total 512 Ross 308 broiler breeder hens (71-wk-old) were assigned to 2 dietary VE treatments (6 and 100 mg/kg) for 14 wk. Progeny chicks used in trials 1 and 2 were originated from eggs laid at week 10 (stored 0 d) and week 8 (stored 14 d), and week 14 (stored 0 d) and week 12 (stored 14 d), respectively. The 4 groups in trial 1 consisted of 2 levels of maternal VE (6 and 100 mg/kg) and 2 egg storage time (0 and 14 d). The 8 groups in trial 2 consisted of 2 levels of maternal VE (6 and 100 mg/kg), 2 egg storage time (0 and 14 d) and progeny sex (male and female). In trial 1, egg storage decreased the body weight, the liver total superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity of 21-day-old offspring (P < 0.05), and the body weight gain and feed intake from 8 to 21 d and 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05); and increased the serum and liver malonaldehyde (MDA) of 7-day-old offspring and the ratio of feed: gain (F/G) from 1 to 7 d (P < 0.05). Maternal VE (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) decreased the F/G from 1 to 7 d and increased the serum total superoxide dismutase of 21-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). In trial 2, egg storage decreased the body weight of 42-day-old offspring, and the body weight gain and feed intake from 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d (P < 0.05); and increased the serum and liver MDA of 21- and 42-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). Maternal VE (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) reduced the serum MDA of 7-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). Interactively, maternal VE (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) reduced the serum MDA of offspring originated from stored eggs (P < 0.05), but not for that of offspring originated from unstored eggs in the two trials. It can be concluded that egg storage (14 vs. 0 d) decreased the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of offspring, while maternal dietary VE (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) supplementation could partly alleviate the reduction of antioxidant capacity (except for growth performance) of offspring induced by egg storage for the early phase post-hatch.

Research Note: Effects of turning and short period of incubation during long-term egg storage on embryonic development and hatchability of eggs from young and old broiler grandparent flocks

Longer egg storage times (>7 d) are common in broiler parent and grandparent hatcheries to obtain the requested flock size. However, prolonged storage is known to decrease hatchability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of turning and short period of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) for 14 d on the stage of blastoderm development, embryonic mortality, and hatchability of eggs from young and old grandparent flocks. Hatching eggs were obtained from Ross female line grandparent flocks aged 29 wk (young) and 58 wk (old). Eggs were stored at 15°C, and turned 90° 0 or 4 times daily during storage. On day 5 after egg collection, the eggs were either held in the storage room (control) or subjected to SPIDES treatment. The development of the blastoderm in sample eggs was determined immediately after collection on a farm and again after the SPIDES treatment. Each of the 8 subtreatments was tested on 6 replicate trays of 150 eggs (900 eggs per subtreatment) with 7,200 hatching eggs set in a single-stage setter and hatcher for the trial. The stage of blastoderm development was advanced by the old flock, by SPIDES, and by turning 4 times daily during egg storage (P ≤ 0.05). There was a significant interaction effect of flock age × turning during storage on embryonic development, which suggested that turning advanced the stage of blastoderm development only in eggs from the old flock (P ≤ 0.05). Eggs from the young flock had a better hatchability than eggs from the old flock (P ≤ 0.05). Hatchability was increased by turning 4 times/day during the storage period compared with no turning because of a decrease in the percentage of late embryonic mortality (P ≤ 0.05). SPIDES decreased early and late embryonic mortality as well as the percentage of second-grade chicks (P ≤ 0.05), which increased the hatchability of fertile eggs at both flock ages (P ≤ 0.05). The results of this study showed that a combination of turning eggs 4 times daily along with one SPIDES treatment during 14 d of storage resulted in the highest hatchability in both young and old broiler grandparent flocks.

Research Note: Storage period and prewarming temperature effects on synchronous egg hatching from broiler breeder flocks during the early laying period

The effects of the storage period and prewarming temperature on embryonic mortality, hatchability, and synchronous hatching of broiler eggs were investigated. Eggs were obtained from commercial flocks of Ross 308 broiler breeders at 27 and 28 wk of age for trials 1 and 2, respectively. In both trials, 2,400 eggs were stored for 4 d (short) or 11 d (long) at 18°C (64.4°F) and 75% RH and were randomly assigned to 2 groups at either a prewarming temperature of 26.1°C (79°F, low) or 29.4°C (85°F, high) for 8 h before setting. The eggs were transferred from setters to hatching baskets at 444 h (18.5 d) of incubation. The hatched chicks were counted at 6-h intervals between 468 h and 516 h of incubation and categorized as early, middle, or late hatching. The eggs stored for 4 d hatched earlier than the eggs stored for 11 d (P < 0.05). An increased prewarming temperature (29.4°C) resulted in a 1.0-h shorter incubation duration, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.064). An interaction between the storage period and prewarming temperature was observed for middle- and late-hatched chicks (P < 0.05). No interactions between the storage period and prewarming temperature were observed for hatchability of fertile eggs or embryonic mortality; however, a significant interaction was found between the storage period and prewarming temperature on the second-quality chick percentage (P < 0.05). The eggs stored for 11 d had a significantly reduced hatchability of fertile eggs owing to increased embryonic mortality than short-stored eggs (P < 0.05). The interaction effect indicated that eggs held for 8 h with prewarming at 29.4°C after 11 d of storage had more middle- and fewer late-hatched chicks and improved chick quality than those that received the 26.1°C prewarming treatment (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found among the prewarming treatments for eggs stored for 4 d. This study demonstrated that prolonged egg storage resulted in reduced hatchability, increased incubation duration, and an asynchronous hatching time. Moreover, increasing the prewarming temperature could be used to promote uniformity among embryos through synchronous hatching, thus improving broiler flock uniformity and performance of the prolonged stored eggs.

Effects of broiler breeder strain, age, and eggs preheating profile in single-stage systems on the hatchability of eggs and quality of chicks

Preheating can increase the efficiency of commercial broiler breeding. A slow increase in temperature can counteract the negative effects of water condensation on the surface of the shell and reduces the thermal shock to the embryos. It is essential to design different preheating profiles because of the variances between breeds in terms of egg construction and the course of embryogenesis, along with the influence of the parental flocks' age on hatching rates. This study aimed to analyze six preheating profiles with different time and temperature patterns (A-F), which were immediately applied before the egg incubation began. These profiles were used for two broiler breeder strains - Hubbard Flex and Ross 308 - for the entire laying cycle divided into six age ranges: 25-30, 31-36, 37-42, 43-48, 49-54, and 55-60wk of life. A total of 7839250 Hubbard Flex and 57167060 Ross 308 eggs were used in the study. The eggs were stored for 4-7d before the preheating profile was applied. Mortality during incubation, hatchability, and the quality of chicks were analyzed. The most favorable results were obtained with profile B - 02 h (25.0 °C):02 h (29.4 °C):02 h (32.2 °C):02 h (35.0 °C):02 h (37.8 °C), while the worst results were obtained with profile C - 03 h (23.9 °C):03 h (25.0 °C):04 h (32.2 °C). These findings indicated that compared to a rapid temperature increase during incubation, multistage slow heating of eggs is more advantageous as it enables achieving better hatchability from apparent fertile eggs and obtaining more first-grade chicks. An analysis of the interaction of different preheating profiles with flock age and breed of parental flock revealed that profile C is not suitable for eggs from older flocks, in particular Ross 308. Deterioration of hatchability of chicks from apparent fertile eggs was also confirmed for flocks over 49wk of life after the application of profile E - 03 h (77 °C):02 h (29.4 °C):02 h (32.2 °C):01 h (35.0 °C):02 h (37.8 °C). Increased early and late mortality of embryos was observed in the case of Hubbard Flex after the use of profile D - 03 h (25.0 °C):02 h (29.4 °C):01 h (32.2 °C):02 h (35.05 °C):02 h (37.8 °C). Based on the obtained results, it can be recommended that profile B can be applied for the entire duration of Ross 308 and Hubbard Flex flock utilization to achieve high egg hatchability and obtain high-quality chicks.

The Effects of Broiler Breeder Dietary Vitamin E and Egg Storage Time on the Quality of Eggs and Newly Hatched Chicks

Simple Summary

Broiler breeder dietary vitamin E supplementation has been indicated to enhance the antioxidant status of egg yolks, embryos, and newly hatched chicks. However, knowledge of the relationships involving breeder dietary vitamin E, the egg storage time, and the quality of the eggs and newly hatched chicks in poultry, especially in broiler breeders, is still limited. Here, we aimed to provide important evidence regarding broiler breeder dietary vitamin E and egg storage time intervention in egg characteristics and hatchability and the antioxidant status of the egg yolks and newly hatched chicks. Our results showed that prolonged egg storage time (14 vs. 0 d) increased the embryonic mortality, decreased the hatchability, and impaired the antioxidant status of egg yolks and newly hatched chicks, while increasing the broiler breeder dietary vitamin E levels (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) improved the livability of embryos and the antioxidant status of newly hatched chicks in the case of long-term egg storage. These findings suggested that broiler breeder dietary vitamin E could be applied in extending the storage time of breeder eggs.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of broiler breeder dietary vitamin E and egg storage time on the egg characteristics, hatchability, and antioxidant status of the egg yolks and newly hatched chicks. A total of 512 71-week-old Ross 308 breeder hens were fed the same basic diets containing 6 or 100 mg/kg vitamin E for 12 weeks. During this time, a total of 1532, 1464, and 1316 eggs were independently collected at weeks 8, 10, and 12, respectively, and subsequently stored for 0 or 14 d before hatching. The outcomes from three trials showed that prolonged egg storage time (14 vs. 0 d) negatively affected (p < 0.05) the egg characteristics, hatchability traits, and the yolk total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05). Chicks derived from the stored eggs exhibited higher malonaldehyde (MDA) and T-AOC in the serum and yolk sac (p < 0.05). Broiler breeder dietary vitamin E (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) increased (p < 0.05) the hatchability and the antioxidant status of the yolks as indicated by a higher α-tocopherol content and T-AOC and lower MDA level (p < 0.05). The supplementation of vitamin E also remarkably increased (p < 0.05) the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity (yolk sac, weeks 8 and 12) and T-AOC (serum, weeks 8, 10, and 12; yolk sac, weeks 8 and 12) and decreased (p < 0.05) the MDA content of chicks (yolk sac, week 10; serum, week 12). Interactions (p < 0.05) were found between the broiler breeder dietary vitamin E and egg storage time on the hatchability and antioxidant status of chick tissues. Broiler breeder dietary vitamin E (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) increased (p < 0.05) the hatchability and the T-AOC in the serum and liver of chicks, and decreased (p < 0.05) the early embryonic mortality and the MDA content in the yolk sacs of chicks derived from eggs stored for 14 d but not for 0 d. In conclusion, prolonged egg storage time (14 vs. 0 d) increased the embryonic mortality, decreased the hatchability, and impaired the antioxidant status of egg yolks and newly hatched chicks, while the addition of broiler breeder dietary vitamin E (100 vs. 6 mg/kg) could partly relieve these adverse impacts induced by long-term egg storage.

Effects of maternal dietary vitamin E on the egg characteristics, hatchability and offspring quality of prolonged storage eggs of broiler breeder hens

This research aims to evaluate the effects of maternal vitamin E (VE) dietary supplementation on the egg characteristics, hatchability and antioxidant status of the embryo and newly hatched chicks of prolonged storage eggs. A total of 576 75-week-old Ross 308 breeder hens were randomly allocated into three dietary VE treatments (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) with 6 replicates of 32 hens, for a 12-week feeding trial. At week 12, a total of 710 eggs were collected over a 5-day period, and eggs per treatment were attributed into 5 replicates and stored for 14 days until incubation. The egg yolk, trunk and head of 7-day-old embryo and the serum, liver, brain and yolk sac of newly hatched chicks were sampled for the evaluation of antioxidant status. Results showed that as maternal dietary VE levels increased, yolk α-tocopherol concentration increased (p < .05). Compared with 100 mg/kg VE, the use of 200 and 400 mg/kg VE increased the hatchability of set/fertile eggs and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of liver and serum in chicks (p < .05), and decreased both the early embryonic mortality and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of trunk and head in 7-day-old embryos (p < .05); moreover, 400 mg/kg VE increased the yolk T-AOC (p < .05) and decreased yolk and brain MDA content of chicks (p < .05). Brain T-AOC of chicks in 200 mg/kg VE group was improved compared to that of chicks in 100 mg/kg VE group (p < .05). In conclusion, maternal dietary VE at 200 or 400 mg/kg could increase hatchability by decreasing early embryonic mortality and increasing the antioxidant status of egg yolk, embryo and newly hatched chicks as breeder egg storage was prolonged to 14-18 days. The suitable VE level for the broiler breeder diet was 200 mg/kg as breeder egg storage was prolonged.