Influence of in ovo inoculation with various nutrients and egg size on broiler performance

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of inoculation of different nutrients into eggs of 18-d-old broiler embryos. On d 18 of incubation, before transferring, eggs were injected with a solution containing either maltose, a multivitamin supplement, zinc-glycine, glutamine, a mixture containing all these elements, or sodium chloride (control). After hatching, 2,400 male broiler chicks were placed in an experimental broiler house and distributed into 60 floor pens in a completely randomized design comprising a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments (2 egg weights × 6 solutions), for a total of 12 treatments. Birds and feed consumption were measured weekly. At 42 d of age, 3 birds per replicate pen were randomly selected for processing. Birds derived from heavier eggs had greater hatchability and hatching weight. At 42 d of age, birds from heavier eggs had higher BW, carcass weight, and breast meat weight. The livability of birds derived from heavy eggs was higher at 7 and 14 d of age. The in ovo inoculation of the nutrients to 18-d-old embryos did not influence live performance or carcass traits. The technique of in ovo inoculation of certain nutrients may be used in industrial poultry production, but further studies are required to define the best solutions or mixture of nutrients to be used. © 2010 Poultry Science Association, Inc.