Benefits of nutritional supplementation at the embryonic stage in broilers

In-ovo feeding of broiler chicks, though still not widely adopted by the poultry industry, is generating a lot of interest.

Indeed, researchers have spent many years exploring how to boost the quality and liveability of the day-old chick through improving embryonic stage nutritional approaches.

In-ovo feeding is applied to the amniotic fluid of eggs typically at 18 days incubation. Many nutrients or supplements can potentially be included in the in ovo feeding solution including carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids and other modulators.

Data from in-ovo nutrition trials shows that such an innovative practice can help reduce antibiotic use in the first few days of a chick’s life, as well as achieving significant reductions in early bird mortality related to dehydration and starvation.

In a live webinar on Tuesday March 5, FeedNavigator will hear from the world’s leading experts about the benefits of in-ovo feeding, and how it can influence the feeding programs later on.

Register for the live online discussion​​ now.

David Peebles, professor of poultry science, Mississippi State University, will join us, along with Dr Zehava Uni, professor of animal sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Peter Ferket, professor in nutrition and biotechnology at North Carolina State University. 

Reports have shown that delivering carbohydrates at the embryonic stage can increase tissue glycogen stores, and that the feeding of creatine in ovo can be used to promote muscle growth. 

Other studies have indicated in ovo feeding of trace minerals and vitamin D3 has the potential to improve bone strength, while potassium chloride may be an effective alternative electrolyte in vaccine diluent. 

Several other studies have demonstrated that probiotics delivered in ovo may be effectively used to fight intestinal bacterial infections. Folic acid, as well as egg white protein and various amino acids, including L-arginine, L-lysine, L-histidine, HMB, and threonine alone or in combination, have been shown to benefit embryonic development or post-hatch performance. 

Our panelists expect the ovo application of these and other materials will continue to expand and provide further benefits to the poultry industry.

We will also hear though about the limitations of such an approach to nutrient delivery.