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In Ovo Nutrition To Improve Post Hatch Performance Of Broilers
In ovo feeding
In ovo feeding is fundamentally feeding the embryo an external diet before hatch (Uni and Ferket, 2003 Patent # US 6,592,878 B2, Uni and Ferket, 2004). Supplementing the amnion with appropriate nutrients is a novel way to feed critical dietary nutrients to embryos.
Necessity for in ovo feeding
In any commercial poultry production system, the first few weeks are the most critical period in a chick’s life, which has a significant bearing on the survivability and growth of the bird. Newly hatched chicks are very often subjected to undue stress that makes them more susceptible to pathogens. The perinatal period, the last four days before hatch and the first four days after hatch is most critical period for development and survival of commercial broilers. It is the period during which nutritional conditioning and perinatal programming can occur. The perinatal chick makes the metabolic and physiological transition from nutrition supplied in the egg to feed, and it is functionally programmed to adapt to its environment. A chick's first meal occurs when it consumes the amnion fluid before internal piping at about 18 days of incubation in broilers. In ovo feeding technology has established a new science of perinatal nutrition that will open opportunities for greater production efficiency (Ferket, 2011).
In commercial hatcheries, hatchlings are commonly held for 36 to 72 h from the time of actual hatch to placement. This is due to the wide “hatching window”, hatchlings are not removed, until maximum number of eggs have been hatched. This causes most hatchlings to be fasted for 48 h or more before they have access to first feed and water. This makes hatchlings become more susceptible to pathogens, have decreased body weight and have restricted development of the intestine. In ovo feeding of nutrients especially carbohydrates replenishes the glycogen stores depleted during the prenatal period and also increases body weight.
Nutrients fed in ovo
In ovo feeding may include the amnion supplementation of nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enteric modulators.
The benefits of in ovo feeding
In ovo feeding could lead to improved digestive capacity, increased growth rate and feed efficiency, reduced post-hatch mortality and morbidity, improved immune response to enteric antigens, reduced incidence of developmental skeletal disorders, increased muscle development and breast meat yield, increased liver glycogen status, higher glycogen reserves, body weight, pectoral muscle weight and body weight gain than control birds (Kornassio et al., 2011).
In ovo fed birds exhibited increased villus width and surface area as compared to the control group. In ovo feeding also helped improve the colonization resistance of enteric pathogens. In ovo injection of amino acids, trace elements or fatty acids and vitamins were also able to modulate cell mediated immune response in chicks (Bakyaraj et al., 2012).
Enhanced expression of genes for brush boarder enzymes (sucrase-isomaltase, leucine aminopeptidase) and their biological activity, along with enhanced expression of nutrient transporters, Sodium Glucose Linked Transporter-1 (SGLT-1), Peptide Transporter-1 (PEPT-1) and NaK ATPase were reported on in ovo feeding (Tako et al., 2005).
Chicken embryos supplemented in ovo with a solution containing minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates improved the mechanical properties of bone in two-week-old broilers and affected the bone throughout the bird's life to 54 days of age in an Israeli study (Yair et al., 2013).
In ovo supplementation of nano-silver lead to it being deposited in embryo’s bone but did not affect structure and mechanical properties of the bone. There was a tendency of increasing mineral content, indicating that nanoparticles may influence bone mineralization (Sikorska et al., 2010).
In ovo administration of nanoparticles, acting as bioactive agents and as carriers of nutrients may be seen as a new method of nano-nutrition, providing embryos with bioactive compounds and/or with an additional quantity of nutrients or energy. Nutrient supplementation in ovo was reported to be more efficient when a compound was attached to nanoparticles (silver or gold), which delivered it inside the body tissues and cells (Sawosz et al., 2012).
Conclusion
The degree of response to in ovo feeding may depend upon genetics, breeder hen age, egg size and incubation conditions (Uni and Ferket, 2004). In ovo feeding becomes important in todays commercial broiler production and can improve body weight of birds, feed efficiency, muscle development and immunity. It also helps overcome ill effects on delayed feeding of hatchlings.
References
Ferket P.R., 2011. In ovo feeding and the promise of perinatal nutrition. In proceedings of Alltech International Nutrition Symposium, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America (USA).
ICRA, 2013. Indian Poultry Industry – Broiler Meat and Table Egg, Corporate Ratings. www.icra.in/files/ticker .
Kornasio, R., O. Halevy, O. Kedar and Z. Uni, 2011. Effect of in ovo feeding and its interaction with timing of first feed on glycogen reserves, muscle growth, and body weight. Poult Sci., 90(7):1467-77.
Sawosz, F., L. Pineda, A. Hotowy, P. Hyttel, E. Sawosz, M. Szmidt, T. Niemiec, A. Chwalibog, 2012. Nano-nutrition of chicken embryos. Effect of silver nanoparticles and glutamine on molecular responses and morphology of pectoral muscle. Baltic Journal of Comparative and Clinical System Biology, pp: 229-45.
Sikorska, J., M. Szmidt, E. Sawosz, T. Niemiec, M. Grodzik and A. Chwalibog, 2010. Can silver nano particles affect the mineral content, structure and mechanical properties of chicken embryo bones. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 19: 286-292.
Tako, E., P. Ferket and Z. Uni, 2005. Changes in chicken intestinal zinc exporter (ZnT1) mRNA expression and small intestine functionality following an intra amniotic zinc-methionine (ZnMet) administration. J. Nutr. Biochem., 16: 339-46.
Uni, Z. and P.R. Ferket, 2003. Enhancement of development of oviparous species by in ovo feeding. US patent number 6,592,878.
Uni, Z. and Ferket P.R, 2004. Methods for early feeding and their potential. World.Poultry .Sci. J., 60:101-111.
Yair, R., R. Shahar and Z. Uni, 2013. Prenatal nutritional manipulation by in ovo enrichment influences bone structure, composition and mechanical properties. J. Animal Sci., 91(5): 5548.
By:-
Dr. C. Valli
Professor and Head, Institute of Animal Nutrition, TANUVAS