Abstract
Simple SummaryCurcumin has been used as a suitable feed supplement for poultry to improve several hematological and biochemical indicators, diminish heat stress, and increase antioxidant activity. This experiment evaluated the effects of incubation temperatures and spraying hatching eggs with curcumin during the incubation phase on chick embryo development, hatchability, physiological body reactions, and hormonal profiles of Dokki 4 chickens. The findings indicated that the relative water loss and dead after piping in the chronic incubation temperature group were significantly increased compared with the normal incubation temperature group. Post-hatch, the triiodothyronine level in the high incubation temperature group was significantly decreased than in the control group. Regarding curcumin treatments, relative water loss from eggs and the hatchability of fertile eggs in treated groups significantly increased, while body surface temperature significantly decreased compared with the control. This study evaluated the impact of incubation temperature and spraying hatching eggs with curcumin during the early embryogenesis phase on chick embryo developments, hatchability, physiological body reactions, and hormonal profiles of Dokki 4 chickens. A total of 720 fertile eggs were equally distributed into two groups. In the first group, the eggs were incubated at normal incubation temperature/NIT (37.8 °C and 55–60% RH) for up to 19 days of incubation, whereas those in the second group were incubated in the same conditions except from 6 to 8 day, in which they were daily exposed to chronic incubation temperature/CIT (39.0 °C) for 3 h. Each group was classified into four curcumin treatment doses; the 1st treatment (control) was sprayed with distilled water, while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatments were sprayed with 250, 500, and 1000 mg curcumin/liter distilled water. The results indicated that the lowest hatchability of fertile eggs (%) was obtained in the CIT group (p = 0.02), whereas the highest body surface temperature/BST compared in the NIT group (p = 0.01). Regarding curcumin treatments, the percentages of heart, gizzard, spleen, and T3 hormone levels in the treated group were significantly increased, while the H/L ratio was significantly reduced (p = 0.001) compared with the control. At 8 weeks of age, the testes and ovary percentages in treated groups were significantly (p = 0.05) increased compared with the control. In conclusion, exposure of hatching eggs to high thermal stress (39 °C) during the incubation phase had deleterious effects on chick performance and T3 hormone level. Moreover, spraying hatching eggs had beneficial impacts on growth, reproductive organs, T3 hormone level, and reducing H/L ratio.
Highlights
During the incubation phase, the eggshell temperature controls chick embryo development, hatchability, and chick performance [1]
The findings showed that the highest relative water loss and dead after piping for chick embryos were obtained in the chronic group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.006) compared with the control group
The findings revealed that the hatchability of fertile eggs was significantly (p = 0.019) decreased by incubation temperature, while the hatchability of set eggs was not affected
Summary
The eggshell temperature controls chick embryo development, hatchability, and chick performance [1]. The optimum incubation temperature ranges, especially after embryonic day 9, are difficult to reach due to excessive heat production from the developing embryos [3,6]. The peculiarity of epigenetic adaptation, which may occur during early pre-or postnatal ontogeny, may alleviate problems associated with the control of thermoregulation during rearing [10]. This reasoning suggests that modifying standard incubation temperatures by increasing broiler embryo temperatures may be a way to enhance the post-hatching performance of chickens [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
