In ovo feeding of creatine monohydrate increases performances of hatching and development in breeder chicks

The current investigation was conducted to test the potential effects of in ovo feeding of creatine monohydrate (CMH) on hatchability, embryonic mortality, hatching weight, and development of heart and gastrointestinal tract (main organs and regions) of breeder chick embryos. Rhode Island Red fertile eggs were randomly distributed into seven experimental treatments: untreated egg (control), a sterile buffered solution (0.50% NaCl), and five solutions containing increased levels of CMH (0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00%) + 0.50% NaCl, being separated in four groups/replicates (three with 15 eggs and one with 16 eggs), totaling 61 eggs/treatment and a total of 427 fertile eggs used. All-in ovo injected groups with CMH decreased the hatchability and increased the intermediary embryonic mortality. At hatching, all-in ovo injected groups with CMH also increased the hatching weight and stimulated the development of the heart and the total length of the gastrointestinal tract, especially important organs for digestion of nutrients (yolk sac, pro-ventricle and gizzard) and regions for nutrient absorption (jejunum + ileum and colon + rectum). Conclusively, the in ovo feeding using CMH showed positive impacts on hatching weight and the development of gastrointestinal tract of chicks. However, caused negative impacts on hatchability.

Relationship between the level and the action period of fiber in diets to laying hens

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the level of fiber and its action period in diets to laying hens on performance and egg quality. 180 Hisex white hens (65 weeks-old) were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 60 birds each, comprising 10 replicates of six birds per treatment. The experimental design was factorial scheme considering three levels of fiber (2.50, 4.87 and 7.24%) in birds’ diets, and three action periods of this fiber (short - 21 days, medium - 56 days, and long - 105 days) in the feed. The estimates of treatments were firstly subjected to ANOVA and a subsequent Tukey test at 5%. Birds fed diets with moderate levels of fiber (4.87%) presented better (p < 0.05) performance. High levels of fiber caused a significant reduction in performance. Birds fed diets with low and moderate levels of fiber produced eggs with better (p < 0.05) quality. High levels of fiber caused a significant reduction in egg quality. The exposure of birds to diets with fiber for long-term caused a negative effect (p < 0.05) on performance, egg weight and percentage of its main structures, albumen height, yolk height, eggshell thickness, and the specific gravity.

Powdered coconut water as preservant of semi-heavy cocks semen

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the effect of powered coconut water as preservant of cocks semen in different times. The experimental method was completely randomized, with treatments constituted by different times (1, 5, 10 and 15 minutes) of powered coconut water as preservant of cocks semen (Rhode Island Red lineage with 30-weeks). After collect and use of powered coconut water as preservant, the semen samples were used for inseminated of breeders of same lineage and age (16 per treatment). 280 eggs were collected for evaluation of effects on chicks (70 eggs per treatment). Were evaluated the incubation yields, chick/egg relation and gastrointestinal tract development of chicks. The data collected were submitted for variance analysis and evaluated by Tukey test at 5% of significance. Differences (p<0.05) were observed in incubation yields, chick/egg relation and gastrointestinal tract development, with the exception (p>0.05) of oropharynx + oesophagus length and yolk sac weight. From these results, it was concluded that the powered coconut water can be used as preservation of cocks semen up to 15 minutes. Cells exposed more time to nutrients provided by the powdered coconut water showed eggs and chicks most heavier, and better results in the incubation yields and embryo development.