Enrichment of broiler meat with very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (VLCn-3 FA) is of interest because of their beneficial effects on human health. The ability of Ahiflower ® (AHI) oil (Buglossoides arvensis), which naturally contains stearidonic acid (SDA), and a high-alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) flaxseed (FLAX) oil to enrich VLCn-3 FA contents in broilers tissues was investigated. Fifty-five Cobb 500 chicks were fed from days 12 to 35 of life either a control (CON) diet that contained 27.9 g/kg soybean oil or AHI or FLAX oils, each individually at 7.5 or 22.5 g/kg of the diet in substitution for soybean oil (all on an as fed basis). Total VLCn-3 FA contents were greater in breast, thigh, liver, adipose tissue, and plasma of all n-3 treatments compared to CON, with the greatest increase observed at the highest level of AHI and FLAX oils (p < 0.001). AHI oil at 7.5 g/kg promoted the most efficient synthesis and deposition of VLCn-3 in broiler tissues measured as deposition of VLCn-3 FA in tissues relative to intake of n3 FA. In conclusion, both ALA and SDA oils increased VLCn-3 FA deposition in tissues, but there were diminishing returns when increasing dietary levels of the oils.

Nutrient administration in-ovo could be considered as an alternative method to improve hatchability and duckling weight followed by better economic performance. On the 12th day of incubation, fertile duck eggs (n= 500) were distributed into 5 groups, each of 100. These were: un-injected control; 0.50 ml distilled water; 0.50 ml amino acids (AA) mixture; 0.75 ml distilled water; and 0.75 ml amino acids mixture. In-ovo injection of 0.50 ml but not 0.75 ml of AA mixture resulted in higher hatchability percentage than un-injected control; however this was not statistically confirmed. In-ovo injection of either 0.50 or 0.75 ml of AA mixture resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight at hatch, marketing weight for males not for females, and higher feed intake than the un-injected control. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in feed conversion ratio between in-ovo amino acids ducks and un-injected control during the whole experimental periods. Liver weight as a percentage of body weight was higher (P < 0.05) in the in-ovo amino acids injected groups than un-injected control. Lymphoid organs of 0.50 AA-injected male group and 0.75 ml AA-injected female group were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than the un-injected control. Antibodies titers did not differ (P < 0.05) between in-ovo amino acids injected groups and un-injected control. It is concluded that in-ovo injection of amino acids mixture may improve and accelerate growth and post-hatch performance of Muscovy ducks.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract