In ovo feeding with minerals and vitamin D3 improves bone properties in hatchlings and mature broilers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in ovo feeding (IOF) with inorganic minerals or organic minerals and vitamin D3 on bone properties and mineral consumption. Eggs were incubated and divided into 4 groups: IOF with organic minerals, phosphate, and vitamin D3 (IOF-OMD); IOF with inorganic minerals and phosphate (IOF-IM); sham; and non-treated controls (NTC). IOF was performed on embryonic day (E) 17; tibiae and yolk samples were taken on E19 and E21. Post-hatch, only chicks from the IOF-OMD, sham, and NTC were raised, and tibiae were taken on d 10 and 38. Yolk mineral content was examined by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Tibiae were tested for their whole-bone mechanical properties, and mid-diaphysis bone sections were indented in a micro-indenter to determine bone material stiffness (Young's modulus). Micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used to examine cortical and trabecular bone structure. Ash content analysis was used to examine bone mineralization. A latency-to-lie (LTL) test was used to measure standing ability of the d 38 broilers. The results showed that embryos from both IOF-OMD and IOF-IM treatments had elevated Cu, Mn, and Zn amounts in the yolk on E19 and E21 and consumed more of these minerals (between E19 and E21) in comparison to the sham and NTC. On E21, these hatchlings had higher whole-bone stiffness in comparison to the NTC. On d 38, the IOF-OMD had higher ash content, elevated whole-bone stiffness, and elevated Young's modulus (in males) in comparison to the sham and NTC; however, no differences in standing ability were found. Very few structural differences were seen during the whole experiment. This study demonstrates that mineral supplementation by in ovo feeding is sufficient to induce higher mineral consumption from the yolk, regardless of its chemical form or the presence of vitamin D3. Additionally, IOF with organic minerals and vitamin D3 can increase bone ash content, as well as stiffness of the whole bone and bone material in the mature broiler, but does not lead to longer LTL.

Basic morphometry, microcomputed tomography and mechanical evaluation of the tibiotarsal bone of a dual-purpose and a broiler chicken line

“…Similar growth patterns of the trabecular bone have been reported recently in chickens [28], geese [41] and in humans [42]. The tibiotarsal mechanical properties such as rigidity, maximal strength, and fracture strength are indicators of skeletal integrity and associated with differing bone characteristics including both densitometric (cortical and trabecular BMDv) and geometric parameters (bone weight, bone weight per unit of length, bone width, total and cortical bone area) [23,32,43]. Our results show that the bone volume fraction decreases with age in both chicken lines, resulted from the reduction in trabecular numbers over time with unchanged trabecular thickness, which could diminish the bone fracture strength.…”

Effects of In-Ovo Injection of Manganese on Some Organ Weights and Lengths in Quail Hatching Eggs

“…There were no significant differences among treatments for chick weight, yolk sac weight, liver weight, and heart weight. Similarly, Oliveira et al (2015) and Yair et al (2015) reported that injection of mineral mixtures with different Mn (from 0.013 to 0.039 mg per egg) content into the egg did not affect hatching weight in broilers.…”

“…In previous studies, no studies have been conducted to report the effects of treatments on chick length. However, Oliveira et al (2015) and Yair et al (2015) showed that injection of mineral mixtures with different Mn (from 0.013 to 0.039 mg per egg) content into the egg did not affect tibia length in broilers. Contrary to the present study, early studies have reported that Mn deficiency in the diet causes shortness of legs and beaks in chicks (Caskey andNorris 1939).…”

Effects of in ovo feeding with glycerol for broilers

“…One way to stimulate early development of the gastrointestinal tract is to ensure the presence of highly digestible nutrients before and immediately after hatching (Noy and Uni, ). This has been achieved with the use of pre‐housing nutrition (Careghi et al., ) or in ovo feeding (Tako et al., ; Grodzik et al., ; Yair et al., ).…”