Effects of in ovo feeding of L‐arginine on the development of digestive organs, intestinal function and post‐hatch performance of broiler embryos and hatchlings

The present article was conducted to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection of arginine on hatchability, immune system and caecum microflora of broiler chickens. For this reason, 300 fertile eggs were used in a completely randomized design with three experimental treatments. The experimental groups included: 1%–0.5% l‐arginine (100 eggs), 2%–1% l‐arginine (100 eggs), 3‐ control [included both sham control (injection of distilled water; 50 eggs) and control (no injection; 50 eggs)], which were injected on d 14 of incubation. After hatching, chicks of each experimental group (0.5% l‐arginine, 1% l‐arginine, and control groups) were randomly divided into four equal groups (as replicates) and reared for 30 days. Weight and feeding of chickens were recorded. Next, blood samples of chickens were collected on day 30 to evaluate antibody titre. Also, chickens were slaughtered on 24 and 30 days of the experiment to evaluate immune system organs and caecum microflora. Based on the results, in ovo injection of l‐arginine had no significant effect on hatchability, body weight, antibody titre, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus weight (p > .05). On the other hand, treatments significantly affected feed intake and feed conversion ratio (p < .05). As a novel finding, in ovo injection of l‐arginine increased caecal Lactobacillus (p < .01), while decreasing Coliform and Escherichia Coli bacteria (p < .01). However, treatments did not influence caecal Enterococcus (p > .05). The overall results indicated that in ovo injection of 0.5% l‐arginine had a better improving effect on caecal microflora and then considered as a recommended level of the present experiment.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In a different study, in ovo injection of 1% l-arginine increased body weight gain of chicks during seven days post-hatching period (Gao et al, 2018). In a different study, in ovo injection of 1% l-arginine increased body weight gain of chicks during seven days post-hatching period (Gao et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

The impact of in ovo injection of l‐arginine on hatchability, immune system and caecum microflora of broiler chickens

Omidi

Ebrahimi

Janmohammadi

et al. 2019

“…A previous study showed that the yolk sac residue decreased in broiler embryos and chickens from 19 E to 3 day post‐hatch (Gao, Zhao, Li, et al., ). Similar pattern was observed in all treatments in the present study from 19 E to 3 day of age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

In ovo feeding of creatine pyruvate modulates growth performance, energy reserves and mRNA expression levels of gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis enzymes in liver of embryos and neonatal broilers

Zhao

Gong

Gao

et al. 2017

Self Cite

The effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on the growth performance, energy reserves and mRNA expression levels of gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis enzymes in liver of late-term embryos and neonatal broilers were investigated. After candling on 16 day of incubation, a total of 960 eggs were randomly assigned to three treatments: (i) non-injected control, (ii) saline group injected with 0.6 ml of 0.75% physiological saline and (iii) Creatine pyruvate group injected with 0.6 ml of physiological saline containing 12 mg CrPyr/egg. After hatching, 120 male chicks with average body weight (BW) were randomly allocated into each treatment group for a 7-day feeding trial. The results showed that broilers subjected to CrPyr treatment had higher BW than those of the control and saline groups on 1, 3 and 7 day post-hatch, as well as the yolk sac weight on 19 day of incubation (19 E), the day of hatch and 3 day post-hatch (p < .05). Compared with the control and saline groups, IOF of CrPyr increased the plasma creatine concentration on the day of hatch, and the plasma pyruvate concentration on the day of hatch and 3 day post-hatch (p < .05). Moreover, IOF of CrPyr increased the liver pyruvate and glucose concentrations on 19 E and the day of hatch, and the liver glycogen concentration during the experiment (p < .05). Broilers in the CrPyr group showed increased mRNA expression levels of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glycogen synthase 2 (GYS2) on 19 E and the day of hatch (p < .05). These results indicated that IOF of CrPyr increased energy reserves in liver of embryos and neonatal broilers possibly through upregulating the mRNA expression levels of PC, PEPCK and GYS2, which could benefit the increase of BW in broilers on 7 day post-hatch.

“…Therefore, these sources may not be sufficient to support embryonic development (Uni et al, ; Shafey, Al‐Batshan, Al‐Owaimer, & AL‐Samawei, K. A., ). In ovo feeding (IOF), developed to overcome amino acid limitations in these sources, has enhanced poultry embryo intestinal functionality, the nutritional status of hatchlings, poult quality, post‐hatch development and survivability (Uni et al, ; Foye et al, ; Gao et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, BCAAs, and especially isoleucine, have a key role in the upregulation of intestinal and muscular glucose transporters and in enhancing glucose consumption and utilization (Zhang et al, ). Therefore, the IOF of BCAAs may accelerate embryo growth and hatching time by reducing muscle protein mobilization for gluconeogenesis and by promoting muscle development under normal physiological conditions during the perinatal period (Bhanja & Mandal, ; Bai, Greene, Li, Kidd, & Dridi, ; Gao et al, ). In poultry liver Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) L*, a* and b* (CIELab) values, L* (lightness) that varies with diet and feeding level represents a normal physiological condition and is associated with energy metabolism (Trampel, Sell, Ahn, & Sebranek, ; Kop‐Bozbay & Ocak, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In ovo injection of branched‐chain amino acids: Embryonic development, hatchability and hatching quality of turkey poults

Bozbay

Ocak

2019

In this study, the influence of a branched‐chain amino acid blend (BCAA composed of 3 l‐leucine:1 l‐valine:2 l‐isoleucine) injected into the amniotic fluid was evaluated for embryonic growth, yolk‐sac (YS) utilization and development of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and skeletal muscles of turkey embryos from day 24 of incubation (24E) to hatching, together with hatchability, poult quality and liver L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values at hatch. At day 22 of incubation, embryonated eggs (n = 240) were assigned to three treatments, that is, eggs were not injected (control, NC) or injected with 1.5 ml sterile solution with 0.9% salt (SA) or 0.2% BCAA blend (BCAAb). These solutions were injected manually into the amniotic fluid of the embryonated eggs. To determine weights and lengths (where appropriate) of the studied organs and tissues, four embryonated eggs and poults per treatment were selected at 24E and at hatch. While the BCAAb decreased the YS and embryo weight, hatchability and the liver L* value, it increased the weight and quality of poults and the weights of breast and thigh muscles at hatch. In conclusion, the in ovo feeding of the BCAA blend negatively affected hatchability but positively affected hatching weight and poult quality by improving development of skeletal muscles and by regulating energy metabolism.