Abstract
Simple SummaryThe nutrition and health status of the embryo in the hatching process directly influence the hatchability and chicken performance post-hatch in poultry production. The in ovo feeding (IOF) technique provides a viable way to improve the embryonic development and chicken performance post-hatch. Thus, the hypothesis of this study was that supplementing L-arginine (Arg) into embryos could positively affect the hatchability, growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens. The results of this study demonstrate that IOF of Arg positively affected the antioxidant capacity of the breast muscle in the starter period, and there was no effect on the hatchability, growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Overall, our findings suggest that IOF of Arg may have beneficial effects on chicken health without compromising the hatchability, subsequent growth, and meat quality.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of L-arginine (Arg) on the hatchability, growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens. A total of 480 eggs were randomly divided into a non-injected control group (NC group) and a 1% Arg-injected group (Arg group). On day 18 of incubation, 0.5 mL of Arg solution was injected into the embryonic amnion in the Arg group. Upon hatching, 160 mixed-sex chickens were randomly assigned to two groups, with four replicates per group. This experiment lasted for 63 days. The results showed that the hatchability, growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the two groups. However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower (p < 0.05), and the glutathione (GSH) level was higher (p < 0.05) on day of hatching in the Arg group. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity was increased (p < 0.05) on day 21 post-hatch in the Arg group compared to that in the NC group. In conclusion, IOF of Arg increased the antioxidant capacity of the breast muscle in the starter period, which may have a positive effect on health status of slow-growing chickens post-hatch.
Highlights
This is due to the variety of physiological activities of the embryo, which consume large amounts of energy that come from the nutrients deposited in the eggs, limiting the embryonic development and chicken growth post-hatch [2,3]
In order to increase the productivity of Korat chicken (KRC), we aimed to assess the effects of the in ovo feeding (IOF) of Arg on the hatchability, growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens
The hatching process is related to the energy metabolism activity because the reserved glycogen of the fertilized egg would be consumed by the embryo to fuel the energy demand needed for hatching activities [2]
Summary
Under commercial poultry production conditions, the nutrition of eggs may be insufficient to fulfill the requirement for reaching the maximum development of the embryo [1] This is due to the variety of physiological activities of the embryo, which consume large amounts of energy that come from the nutrients deposited in the eggs, limiting the embryonic development and chicken growth post-hatch [2,3]. Yolk lipid contains an abundant amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids that can be attacked by ROS [6], and the excess of which causes oxidative stress This results in the oxidative damage of biological molecules [7], compromising the embryonic growth and chicken performance post-hatch [8]
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