​Response of In ovo Supplementation of Amino Acid and Minerals on Egg Hatchability of Broiler Chicken

Background: In ovo supplementation of nutrients either amino acids or minerals in broiler chicken has been common more often individually or few nutrients with positive results. In view of the above, in ovo supplementation with combination of amino acids and minerals as a complete nutrient capsule for the gut and immune system development was tested for hatchability since the modern commercial broilers are very fragile to any changes in the internal environment. Methods: Four trials were conducted to study the response of in ovo supplementation of combinations of Lys, Met, Arg, Thr, Glu, Zn, Se and Cu on hatchability of broiler eggs. In trial I, the fertile eggs on day 18 were divided into five groups of 32 eggs in each group. Group I served as control without any amino acids and mineral supplementation. Group II, III, IV and V supplemented with Lys, Met, Arg, Thr, Glu, Zn, Se and Cu @ 2.2, 1, 2.5, 1.6, 2.5 mg, 80, 0.3, 16 µg; 4.4, 2, 5, 3.2, 5 mg, 80, 0.3, 16 µg; 11, 5, 12.5, 8, 12.5 mg, 80, 0.3, 16 µg and 22, 10, 25, 16, 25 mg, 80, 0.3, 18 µg respectively. In trial II, seventy fertile eggs were divided into seven groups, Group I served as control. Group II, III, IV, V, VI and VII were supplemented with graded levels (1x to 6x) of amino acids. The 1x consisted of Lys, Met, Arg, Thr and Glu @ 2.2, 1, 2.5, 1.6 and 2.5 mg, respectively. On day 18, 10 eggs per group were supplemented with graded levels of AA combination into the amniotic fluid. In trail III and IV it was similar to trial II but was without Lys and Met, respectively. Result: Results indicated that hatchability (Trial 1) in Group V, IV, III, II and I were 0, 18, 21.8, 71 and 90.6%, respectively. The Combination of five amino acids (Trial II) (Lys, Met, Thr, Arg, Glu) for in ovo supplementation reduced the hatchability, whereas, combination of four amino acids (Trial III) (Met, Thr, Arg, Glu) without Lys at lower doses resulted in good hatchability (86.6%). In ovo supplementation of amino acid or mineral-amino acid combinations in commercial broiler eggs should be restricted to few amino acids.