Effect of vitamin E on reproductive performance of heavy broiler breeder hens

Abstract

The effect of dietary vitamin E as an antioxidant and cholesterol-reducing agent was evaluated in an in vivo experiment. One hundred and eight commercial broiler breeder hens and 36 male breeders at the end of their production cycle (62-72 wk) were used as a bird sensitive to reproductive disorders related to obesity. The experimental design was a completely randomized design in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with 4 replicates and 3 hens in each. Factors included 3 levels of vitamin E (0, 200, and 400 mg/kg of α-tocopherol acetate added to the basal diet) and 3 groups of hens with differing BW (standard, heavy, and becoming heavy). Heavy and standard hens received a restricted amount of feed according to the strain requirement recommendations. Becoming heavy hens were fed 30% more than standard requirement. The egg production between standard, becoming heavy, and heavy groups were significantly different. The becoming heavy hen egg production was 3.1% lower than standard, and heavy hens produced 16.9% less than standard hens. Becoming heavy and heavy hens stored higher fat and cholesterol in their livers and had more yolk cholesterol and abdominal fat than standard BW hens (P < 0.05). An added 400 mg/kg of vitamin E resulted in significantly lower liver fat compared with 0 and 200 mg/kg of added vitamin E. The addition of 200 and 400 mg/kg of vitamin E to the broiler breeder hen diet reduced the fractional egg yolk weight and increased the number of white ovarian follicles significantly. Added vitamin E increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol linearly. Feeding vitamin E at levels 4 times above that recommended by the strain management guide decreased fractional yolk weight, blood triacylglycerol concentration, and changed the metabolic direction of cholesterol in heavy broiler breeder hens. © 2013 Poultry Science Association, Inc.