Three hundred and sixty Hubbard broiler eggs were divided into two equal groups. In the first group, eggs were incubated at 37.5°C for up to 19 d, while those in the second group were incubated at the same temperature except for 3 d (days 6, 7, and 8) when they were exposed to 40.0°C for 3 h each day. Eggs were equally classified into three ascorbic acid (AA) treatments. The first one was sprayed with distilled water (control), while the second and third treatments were sprayed with same solution but containing 20 and 30 g AA L −1 , respectively. The highest embryo weight (EW) per gram and lowest yolk sac weight (YSW) per gram were obtained in the chronic group (P ≤ 0.05). Embryonic mortalities were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased, while hatchability was significantly decreased in the chronic group compared with the control group. Chick weight (g) and glucose and triiodothyronine (T3) levels were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in the chronic group compared with the control group. The heterophil-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) affected by incubation temperature. Body weight (g) and percentages of liver, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in broilers in the chronic group compared with the control group. Referring to AA treatment, EWs (g) were not affected, whereas YSW per gram, packed cell volume (PCV) (%), red blood cells (RBCs) (10 6), H/L ratio, and bursa percentage were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected.

This experiment studied the effect of DPP supplementation in the laying hens’ diet on the ovarian follicle development, hematological variables and hormonal profile of laying hens. Eighty-four, 78-week-old, Lohman LSL hybrids layers were equally divided into four groups (4 groups × 7 replicates × 3 hens); hens in the 1st group were fed a basal diet (control), while those in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups, were fed on the same diet and supplemented with 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g DPP/kg diet. The results showed that the egg weight, egg mass and laying rate of laying hens treated with DPP levels were significantly increased compared to those of the hens in the control group. Egg weight, egg surface area, albumen quality and percentage of the yolk in treated hens significantly increased compared with controls. The increased DPP levels in laying hens‘ diet significantly (p < 0.05) increased WBC, Hb and TAC, while heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L ratio) significantly decreased. Additionally, the concentrations of FSH and LH and the weights of ovary and oviduct in the treated hens significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the control. In conclusion, the DPP supplementation in the hen diet significantly improved egg production, EW, H/L ratio, ovarian follicles, FSH and LH hormones concentrations.

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This study evaluated the impact of incubation temperature and spraying hatching eggs with curcumin during the early embryogenesis phase on chick embryo developments, hatchability, physiological body reactions, and hormonal profiles of Dokki 4 chickens. A total of 720 fertile eggs were equally distributed into two groups. In the first group, the eggs were incubated at normal incubation temperature/NIT (37.8 °C and 55–60% RH) for up to 19 days of incubation, whereas those in the second group were incubated in the same conditions except from 6 to 8 day, in which they were daily exposed to chronic incubation temperature/CIT (39.0 °C) for 3 h. Each group was classified into four curcumin treatment doses; the 1st treatment (control) was sprayed with distilled water, while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatments were sprayed with 250, 500, and 1000 mg curcumin/liter distilled water. The results indicated that the lowest hatchability of fertile eggs (%) was obtained in the CIT group (p = 0.02), whereas the highest body surface temperature/BST compared in the NIT group (p = 0.01). Regarding curcumin treatments, the percentages of heart, gizzard, spleen, and T3 hormone levels in the treated group were significantly increased, while the H/L ratio was significantly reduced (p = 0.001) compared with the control. At 8 weeks of age, the testes and ovary percentages in treated groups were significantly (p = 0.05) increased compared with the control. In conclusion, exposure of hatching eggs to high thermal stress (39 °C) during the incubation phase had deleterious effects on chick performance and T3 hormone level. Moreover, spraying hatching eggs had beneficial impacts on growth, reproductive organs, T3 hormone level, and reducing H/L ratio.

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his work aimed to study the impact of Maca capsules administration on the conception rate and hormonal estimates of rabbit Does. Thirty six rabbit does, (12 V-line, 12 New Zealand white and 12 Bouscat), were divided equally into two equal groups 6 does per each. In the 1 st group, rabbits were fed a commercial breeder ration without any supplementation; while the 2 nd group was fed the commercial breeder ration and daily orally administered with 500mg Maca capsule/doe for one week before mating. All does in the treated group were re-administered with the same dose after three days from parturition (day per day) for one week, then re-mated directly during the 2 nd and 3 rd parties, respectively. The number of mating per conception (NMPC), Conception rated (CR %), Gestation length (Gl), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Estrogen and Progesterone hormone concentrations of rabbit does were measured. The obtained results indicated that there were no significant effect of Maca administration on the NMPC, CR, GL, LH, FSH and progesterone (P4) hormone concentrations in the different rabbit breeds. While the mean estrogen hormone concentration was significantly (P≤ 0.001) higher in NZW Does, followed by V-line. lower value was observed in Bouscat rabbit Does. Also, the estrogen hormone concentration of treated rabbit does was insignificantly higher, while no significant effect was found at the interaction between rabbit breed and maca treatment on NMPC, CR, GL, LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone hormone concentrations. From the obtained findings, it could be concluded that the oral administration of rabbit does with maca capsules insignificantly influenced NMPC, CR, GL, LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone hormone concentrations.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of orally administration of bee pollen (BP) levels at 500 and 1000mg/buck as capsules form on semen physical characteristics as well as some hematological and physiological traits of rabbit bucks exposed to high temperature under Upper Egypt climatic conditions. A total of 30 rabbit bucks ; 52 weeks old, were equally classified into three experimental groups. Bucks in the 1 st group (control) were fed on a commercial ration, while those in the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were fed on the basal diet and orally administered daily with 500 and 1000mg BP/buck, respectively during the experiment, which lasted 56 days.The obtained findings revealed that the means of white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hg), Hematocrit (HCT), MCV (%), total protein (TP) of Moshtohor rabbit bucks were significantly increased, while the total feed intake (TFI) and glucose level were significantly decreased than those of the V-line rabbit bucks.The means of live sperm (%), mass motility (%), conc./ml (10 6 ), conc./ej (10 6 ) and testosterone (ng/ml) in Moshtohor bucks increased significantly (P0.01) by about 4.3, 6.0, 24.0, 28.6 and 16.8%, while reaction time (RT) was significantly decreased by about 20.2% than those of V-line bucks.The bucks treated with both of 500 and 1000mg BP /rabbit had significantly (P0.01) increased means of final body weight (FBW), red blood cells (RBCs), WBCs, Hg, HCT, MCV, TP and Alb, glucose and TAC than the corresponding means of the control group. While, the treatment with BP significantly (P<0.05) reduced TFI and serum cholestrol. 44 EL HAMMADY et al. The means of ejaculate volume, live sperms, mass motility, conc./ml and conc./Ej. (10 6 ) for bucks treated with BP exceeded significantly (P0.01), while the reaction time and sperm abnormalities were significantly (P0.01) decreased as compared with the corresponding figures in the control group.Similarly, the means of glutathione content (GSH) and testosterone hormone concentration were significantly increased in the treated bucks, while the mean malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased as compared with the control group.Conclusively, from the obtained results it could be concluded that treating rabbit bucks raised under high temperature with both of 500 and 1000mg/ buck significantly improved the semen characteristics, blood parameters, antioxidant activities, and testosterone hormone. Laboratory Diction, 3 rd Edition, P. 75 Punges publishing Co., Minneapolis, USA. Attia, Y.A.; Al-Hanoun, A. and Bovera, F. (2011a). Effect of different levels of bee pollen on performance and blood profile of New Zealand White bucks and growth performance of their offspring during summer and winter months. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 95: 17-26. Attia, Y.A.; AL-Hanoun, A.; EL-Din, A.E.; Bovera, F. and Shewika, Y.E. (2011b). Effect of bee pollen levels on productive, reproductive and blood traits of NZW rabbits. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 95: 294-303. Attia, Y.A; El-Hanoun...

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