Effects of the In Ovo Injection of L-Ascorbic Acid on Broiler Hatching Performance

Abstract

Effects of the in ovo injection of various concentrations of L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) on the hatchability and retention levels of L-AA in the serum of broiler embryos were investigated. A total of 960 Ross 708 broilers hatching eggs were randomly divided into four treatment groups: non-injected control, saline-injected control, and saline containing either 12 or 25 mg of L-AA. At 18 days of incubation (doi), injected eggs received a 100 μL volume of sterile saline (0.85%) alone or containing one of the two L-AA levels. Percentage egg weight loss was also determined from 0 to 12 and 12 to 18 doi. Hatch residue analysis was conducted after candling to determine the staging of embryo mortality. At approximately 21 doi, hatchability of live embryonated eggs (HI) and hatchling body weight (BW) were determined. Blood samples were taken at 6 and 24 h after L-AA in ovo injection to determine serum L-AA concentrations. Serum L-AA concentrations, HI, and hatchling BW did not differ among all treatment groups. However, chicks in the non-injected group had a higher (p = 0.05) embryonic mortality at hatch in comparison to those in the 12 mg of L-AA in saline and saline alone treatment groups. These results suggest that the in ovo injection of high levels of L-AA (12 and 25 mg) does not negatively affect HI or serum concentrations of L-AA but has the potential to promote embryonic livability. Further research is needed to determine the retention time of L-AA in the other tissues of broilers, including the cornea of the eye, in response to different levels of supplemental L-AA.

Effects of the In Ovo and Dietary Supplementation of L-Ascorbic Acid on the Growth Performance, Inflammatory Response, and Eye L-Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Ross 708 Broiler Chickens

“…All experimental eggs were candled at 11 and 17 doi according to the procedure of Ernst et al [ 29 ]. At 17 doi, 100 μL solution volumes of each pre-specified treatment were freshly prepared immediately prior to injection in accordance with the procedures described by Mousstaaid et al [ 21 ], and solutions were injected into eggs using a Zoetis Inovoject m (Zoetis Animal Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA) multi-egg injection machine. In ovo injection treatment were: (1) non-injected control; (2) injection of 50 μL of saline (sham-injection control); or injection of 100 μL of saline containing (3) 12 mg of L-AA ( L-AA 12 ), or (4) 25 mg of L-AA ( L-AA 25 ).…”

“…In ovo injection treatment were: (1) non-injected control; (2) injection of 50 μL of saline (sham-injection control); or injection of 100 μL of saline containing (3) 12 mg of L-AA ( L-AA 12 ), or (4) 25 mg of L-AA ( L-AA 25 ). The form and source of L-AA used in this study were the same as those used by Zhang et al [ 17 ] and Mousstaaid et al [ 21 ]. All in ovo injection solutions were prepared according to the procedures described by Zhang et al [ 17 ].…”

“…At 0, 7, and 14 doa, 12, 6, and 6 birds, respectively, per treatment (one male and one female bird per treatment-replicate pen) were randomly selected to be individually weighed and bled according to the method described by Mousstaaid et al [ 21 ] and Fatemi et al [ 31 , 32 ], and then birds were euthanized via carbon dioxide. Plasma was subsequently extracted according to the procedure described by Fatemi et al [ 31 , 32 ].…”

“…In ovo injection of vitamins has shown promising results for broiler hatchability [ 16 , 17 , 18 ] post hatch performance [ 2 , 16 , 17 , 19 ], breast meat yield [ 19 , 20 ], meat quality [ 2 , 16 ], immunity [ 16 , 19 ], and antioxidant activity [ 2 , 16 ]. Zhang et al [ 16 ] and Mousstaaid et al [ 21 ] reported that the in ovo injection of 100 μL of L-AA in a dosage range from 0.5 to 25 mg/mL was safe and resulted in no negative effects on hatchability and hatchling quality. Additionally, a decrease in non-enzymatic antioxidant activity was observed in response to 36 mg/mL of L-AA [ 2 ], and the in ovo administration of 12 mg/mL of L-AA resulted in a greater feed efficiency in broilers in comparison to those that received saline injections or 36 mg/mL of supplemental L-AA.…”

Improvement in the Immunity- and Vitamin D3-Activity-Related Gene Expression of Coccidiosis-Challenged Ross 708 Broilers in Response to the In Ovo Injection of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3

“…Improvements in chicken embryonic and post-hatch development and immune status in response to the in ovo injection of various injected materials, including vitamins, have been observed in previous studies. These observed improvements have been particularly evident in poultry reared under intensive production conditions [ 16 , 17 ]. It is well documented that the in ovo injection of 0.6 to 2.4 μg of 25OHD 3 can increase broiler breast meat yield [ 18 , 19 , 20 ] and live performance [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”