Effects of in ovo feeding of vitamin E or vitamin C on egg hatchability, performance, carcass traits and immunity in broiler chickens

Effects of Formula Product Injection on Hatching Parameters, Small Intestinal Development and Ileum Histology in Breeder Chicken Eggs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effects of in ovo formula product injection on hatching parameters, chick quality, small intestinal development and ileum histology of breeder hen eggs.

METHODS

A total of 400 fertilised eggs were obtained from the Atak-S parent flock at 42 weeks of age for the experiment. The experiment was designed in two groups: a control group (C), in which no injection was performed, and the other group in which a solution containing formula products at concentrations of 1.25% (F1), 2.5% (F2) and 5% (F3) was injected into 0.5 mL/egg air sac. The hatching rate, embryonic mortality and discard chick rate were examined at the end of the trial.

RESULTS

The best result of the hatching rate was found in the Group F2, while there was no difference between the control and Group F1 regarding these parameters. The weight and length of the quality chicks were promoted in the Group F1. In Group F3, the injection of the formula product at a rate of 5% had a negative effect on parameters such as hatchability, embryonic mortality, chick length, Pasgar score and yolk sac weight compared to the other groups. Otherwise, in Group F2, there was a significant increase in villus height, crypt depth and lamina muscularis mucosa thickness compared to the other groups (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

As a result, it has been concluded that the appropriate rates for the formula product application on chicks are 1.25% and 2.5%, considering the positive effects of the 1.25% and 2.5% rates and the negative effects of the 5% rate.

Effect of egg incubator temperature on sex differentiation in Korat chickens

The effect of incubator temperature on sex differentiation in Korat chickens was investigated. The experiments were divided into two sets: temperature applied throughout the entire incubation period and temperature applied during certain periods (days 3-6 of incubation) by either increasing above the standard or decreasing below the standard temperature. In each experiment, 300 Korat chicken eggs were separated into three groups of 5 repetitions, with 20 eggs in each group. This was done using a completely randomized design for each experiment: a group using a temperature below the standard for incubation (36.0 °C), a group using the standard incubation temperature (37.7 °C), and a group using a temperature above the standard for incubation (38.0 °C). W chromosomes were detected at hatch; histology examined reproductive structures after 35 days. Increasing the temperature to 38.0 °C throughout the entire incubation period resulted in no significant difference in hatching rates compared to the standard temperature (P > 0.05). Raising the temperature to 38.0 °C throughout the entire incubation and during certain periods resulted in changes in the reproductive structure of chickens, leading to a mismatch between chromosomal and gonadal sex, observed at 9.7% and 5.9% of individuals with W chromosomes possessed testes, indicating a mismatch between chromosomal and gonadal sex. However, decreasing the temperature to 36.0 °C throughout the incubation period resulted in lower hatching rates compared to the standard temperature (P < 0.05). Incubating eggs at 36.0 °C for specific periods resulted in 19.4% of genetic males developing ovaries instead of testes. The presence of ovaries in individuals without W chromosomes indicated this mismatch. The results of this study provide evidence that temperature plays a role in sex differentiation in Korat chickens, as demonstrated by the detection of W chromosomes and histological studies of testes and ovaries. Moreover, this study presents the first evidence in broilers that temperature can affect sex differentiation.

Vitamin C and/or garlic can antagonize the toxic effects of cadmium on growth performance, hematological, and immunological parameters of growing Japanese quail

This study used 300 1-day-old, sexless, developing chicks of Japanese quail to estimate the ability of vitamin C and/or garlic to antagonize the venomous influence of cadmium (Cd) on the hematological, immunological, and performance characteristics of developing Japanese quail. The quail was separated into 5 similar groups of 60 chicks apiece, and 6 duplicates (10 each) were given to each sub-group. The control group received a basal diet without any supplements. The Cd group was nourished with a basal diet of + 80 mg cadmium chloride (CdCl2)/kg diet. The 3rd group was fed a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet and complemented with a 200 mg Vitamin C (Cd + C)/kg diet. The 4th group was nourished with a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet and complemented by a 500 mg dried garlic powder (Cd + G)/kg diet. The 5th group was fed a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet, complemented by a 200 mg vitamin C/kg diet + 500 mg dried garlic powder (Cd + CG)/kg diet. Results showed that in the 5th group in which cadmium was added together with Vit C + garlic, there was an improvement in both live weight gain (1-42 d) and feed consumption (1-21 and 1-42 d ) compared to the group in which Cd was added alone. The addition of Vit C alone and together with garlic seems to completely improve the cadmium-related increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels when compared to the control. Compared to cadmium-polluted diets, quail that got cadmium and feed additives significantly reduced cadmium residue. In addition, the cadmium group's serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) level decreased significantly. These data imply that dietary supplementation with (C) or (G) may be beneficial in retrogressing the drop in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM caused by Cd and minimizing Cd's deleterious influence on immunity.

Effects of Electrolyte Multivitamins and Neomycin on Immunity and Intestinal Barrier Function in Transported Lambs

Animals experience stress when they are transported. In this experiment, sixty 4-month-old lambs were randomly divided into three groups: CG (basal diet), EG (basal diet + 375 mg/d/lamb electrolytic multivitamin) and NG (basal diet + 200 mg/d/lamb neomycin). The transportation day was recorded as the 0th day. Blood, liver, spleen, jejunum and colon were collected on the 0th, 7th and 14th day. The results were as follows: In EG and NG groups, the lamb weights (p < 0.01), IgA and IgG (p < 0.05) increased significantly. The concentrations of ACTH, E, COR, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ decreased significantly (p < 0.01). The content of colonic propionate increased significantly (p < 0.05). The villus height and V/C increased, and crypt depth decreased significantly (p < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of Occludin and MUC1, and the protein expression of Occludin in the jejunal mucosa, the mRNA expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin, and the protein expression in the colonic mucosa increased significantly (p < 0.01). The mRNA expression of TRAF6 and the protein expression of TLR4 in the jejunum decreased significantly (p < 0.05), as well as the mRNA expressions of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kB, and the protein expression of NF-kB p65 and the mRNA expressions of TRAF6, TLR4 and NF-kB in the colon (p < 0.01). In conclusion, an electrolytic multivitamin could potentially improve the immunity and intestinal barrier function, and when it was added with 375 mg/d in the basal diet for each lamb from 2 d before transportation to 7 d after transportation, it had a better effect than neomycin.

Effect of In Ovo Vitamin C Injection against Mobile Phone Radiation on Post-Hatch Performance of Broiler Chicks

This study aimed to investigate the effect of in ovo injection of vitamin C to reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) emitted from mobile phones on chicken embryos. In this study, a total of 750 fertilized eggs of Ross 308 were exposed to EMWs for 1050 min during the incubation period. On the 17th day of incubation, the eggs were divided into three groups and solutions were injected into the amnion sac of embryos. The chicks were housed separately in accordance with in ovo treatments for 5 wk after hatching. An in ovo vitamin C injection resulted in a lower hatching weight. The post-hatch mortality or production efficiency factor of birds in the in ovo vitamin C injection group and the intact egg group were comparable, and were better than that of the other negative control group. In ovo vitamin C injection in eggs subjected to EMWs significantly increased their body weight gain, carcass weight, abdominal fat weight, and AST levels, but reduced spleen weight and PON-1 levels. In conclusion, an in ovo vitamin C injection in eggs subject to mobile phone EMWs improved the post-hatch performance of chicks, but low PON and high AST activities indicate an increase in oxidative damage among broiler chicks.