Effects of in ovo injection of different nutrients (amino acids, albumin, dextrose) into embryonated eggs on small intestinal morphology, immunity and growth performance of broiler chicks

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Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of in ovo injection of certain nutrients on small intestinal morphology, immune organs weight and growth Performance in broilers. Three hundred and sixty fertile eggs (from Ross 308 broiler breeders) were randomly assigned to six groups including: non-injected (control 1) and injected into the amnion with 0.7 ml distilled water (control 2), blend of amino acids, albumin 20%, dextrose 20% and dextrose 10%) with four replicates of 15 eggs in each replicate. Injections were undertaken into the broad end of eggs by 23- gauge needle with depth of 25 mm. The highest villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio at 1 d old chicks were observed in amino acid and albumin injected groups in compared to control 1, control 2 and dextrose 20% treatments. The results indicated that in ovo injection of albumin increased body weight in the first day of hatch in comparison to control treatments. At 7 d of age, villus height of chicks hatched from albumin injected eggs was significantly greater than control1 treatment. Injection of different nutrients significantly increased the relative weight of thymus in compare to control 1. Nevertheless, there were not any significant effects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio,hatchability percentage, percentages of different white blood cells, relative weights of bursa, small intestine, and relative length of small intestine. In conclusion, it seems that in ovo injection of nutrients, especially albumin and amino acids can be helpful to improve chick’s birth weight, small intestine morphology and immunity of broilers.

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