Influence of perinatal amino acid supplementation on hatchability, gastro-intestinal tract development and growth performance of broiler chicks

Abstract

An experiment was designed to determine the effect of perinatal administration of amino acids on hatchability, growth performance and gastrointestinal tract development of broiler chicks. Two hundred and ninety eight uniform sized Cobb broiler eggs were set for incubation. The fertile eggs were divided into two groups, one group without any injection and the other group was administered in ovo with amino acid solution containing arginine (22 mg), glutamine (25 mg) and threonine (30 mg) per egg on day 18 of incubation into the amniotic cavity. After hatching, the chicks (n=240) were further divided into four groups (6 replicates with 10 chicks in each replicate), namely, Group I: without in ovo and without post hatch supplemented diet (WoINOVO-WoPHS); Group II: without in ovo and with post hatch supplemented diet (25% higher level of lysine, 1.68 mg, methionine,0.63 mg andthreonine,0.99 mg) (WoINOVO-WPHS); Group III: within ovo and without post hatch supplemented diet (WINOVOWoPHS); Group IV: within ovo and with post hatch supplemented diet (WINOVO-WPHS). The results indicated that in ovo administration of amino acids did not show any significant difference in both hatchability and chick weight. Live weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio during 0-3 wk, 3-5 wk and overall phase were not affected (P>005) by either in ovo supplementation and post hatch supplemented diet or their interaction. In ovo supplementation significantly (P<005) increased the weight (% of live weight) of duodenum, proventriculus and gizzard at day of hatch. It is concluded that in ovo supplementation of arginine, glutamine and threonine was beneficial in the early gut development at hatch, but such improvements were not significantly reflected in the growth performance of broiler chicks following post hatch amino acids dietary supplementation.