The effect of in ovo ascorbic acid and glucose injection in broiler breeder eggs on hatchability and chick weight

Abstract

This-study was carried out with the aim of eliminating the stress factors caused by the increase in metabolic heat of the embryo during incubation via AA application, and by providing a supplementary energy source to the embryo prior to hatching through glucose application, and determining its effects on embryonic mortality, hatchability and chick hatch weight. Experiment I was carried out on the 13(th) day of incubation after candling and live embryos were subjected to the following treatments, using the in ovo injection system: 1 - uninjected (control); 2 - eggs injected with 0.5 ml sterile saline solution; 3 - eggs injected with 0.5 ml of saline solution containing 1, 3, 5 or 7 mg of AA per egg. In experiment 2, glucose injection at varying concentrations was applied to the eggs before hatching. For this purpose live embryos candled prior to transfer were subjected to the following treatments on day 18 using in ovo injection (Embrex) system: I - uninjected (control); 2 - eggs injected with 0.5 ml deionized sterile water; 3 - eggs injected with 0.5 ml of deionized sterile water containing 5, 10 or 15 mg of glucose. The effect of AA injection on the hatchability of fertile eggs was found to be significant (P < 0.01). The highest hatchability was obtained from the group treated with AA at. 3 mg concentration. No effect of glucose injection was determined on the hatchabilty and chick weight.