Importance of in-ovo Feeding in Poultry
Debalina Kar
Ph.D Scholar, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037
Abstract
Healthy chick has a major role in successful poultry farming. Chicks do not get access to feed and water for 48-72 hours due to wide hatching window. Fasting for a long time could lead to reduced growth rate, overall performance, increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, to give the chick early access to nutrients concept of in ovo feeding is developed. This strategy is aimed to diminish the negative effects of delayed feeding by injecting essential nutrients directly into the embryo prior to hatching and chicks utilize them during their perinatal life.
Key words: Poultry, in-ovo feeding, fasting, embryo, perinatal
Introduction
Poultry industry is growing tremendously throughout the world over the decade. Increasing awareness of people about health has led to increased consumption of protein rich food. Poultry meat has high biological value and it is comparatively cheap. Now a days commercial broilers attain sexual maturity in a very short span of time and their feed conversion ratio is also decreased. Improved genetic makeup is responsible for this rapid growth rate. To express the full genetic potential nutrition, vaccination and other farm management practices play significant role.
Body weight of chicks in first week of age has great impact on body weight in finisher stage in commercial broiler production. So, early nutrition is important for fast growth of chicks. During last few days of incubation embryo grows rapidly. This pre-hatch period is crucial for survival of chicks post hatch. After hatching chicks get their nutrient from residual yolk and stored glycogen for 3-4 days. Before the chicks are delivered to the rearing farm there is a hatching window of almost 48-72 hours. Because all the chicks does not hatch at the same time in incubator. They are removed from the incubator when 90% chicks are pipped out. Moreover, chicks have to undergo some other procedures in the hatchery like vaccination, sex determination, and transportation to farm. So, they do not get access to feed for a longer period of time which can negatively affect their performance later in life. To overcome this problem, in ovo feeding is an novel approach. In this technique essential nutrients or nutraceuticals are directly injected into the embryo. Towards hatch embryo consumes the amniotic fluid and this mechanism is used to supply essential nutrients into the intestine of embryo. In ovo feeding can enhance growth rate, feed intake, gut development, feed conversion efficiency, immunity and reduce mortality of chicks post hatch.
Necessity of in ovo feeding
Perinatal period is very crucial for chicks survival. This period is characterised by rapid transition of chicks feed intake from lipid rich nutrients of egg yolk to carbohydrate rich solid diet. In commercial broiler farming there is a long hatching window which is unavoidable and chicks are starved for 48-72 hours. In ovo feeding is a very helpful strategy to combat these situation. In this technique definite quantity of nutrient is deposited in the embryo before hatch. Embyro develops rapidly in the last trimester of incubation which is characterised by storage of glycogen in liver and muscle, oral consumption of amnion, pulmonary respiration initiation, shell pipping and emergence. Egg contain very minute quantity of carbohydrate and it cannot meet the energy needed for pipping of the chick. So, they depend on hepatic gluconeogenesis for energy and metabolize amino acid and glycerol. By the time chicks arrive to the farm all the glycogen and amino acids are used up and it can have negative consequence in their performance. Embryonic development and post-hatch performance can be influenced by addition of nutrients into the embryo in last trimester of incubation. In ovo feeding aimed to supply glucogenic substances into the amnion to spare the nutrients required for growth and also maintains high body temperature during initial post-embryonic days. Studies has shown that early nutrition by macro or micro nutrients and probiotics resulted in rapid growth, enhanced feed conversion efficiency, early marketable bodyweight and increased disease resistance.
Nutrients and site of administration
In ovo feeding help the chick to adjust themselves during transition of feed from lipid rich embryonic reserves to carbohydrate. Exogenous nutrient supplementation to embryo helps faster growth of GIT structure and they become able to quickly digest the nutrients provided after hatch. Amino acid, protein, peptide, carbohydrate, vitamins, fatty acids, immunostimulant, probiotics, prebiotics or other modulators are commonly used as nutrient. Yolk sac reserve and these nutrients support the already established system and also help in growth and immunity. Carbohydrate is a source of energy which is essential for hatching and growth of chick. Studies has shown that extra source of energy inoculated in the form of sucrose, dextrose or maltose augmented the surface area of villi in the intestine and improved the development of goblet cells. Amino acid inoculation help in the development of GIT. Minerals and vitamins and minerals are used for the development of immune system and skeletal systems. Antioxidant status and gene expression is improved by in ovo injection of sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine plus cysteine). Infection by pathogen can be prevented by early supplementation of probiotic.
Nutrients can be inoculated directly into the embryonic tissue and this is known as intraembryonic route of in ovo feeding. Extraembryonic routes such as yolk sac, amnion, albumen, allantois, chorion or air cell can also be used. Developing chick is surrounded by amniotic fluid in amnion which provides protection to the embryo. This fluid is composed of nutrients (water, protein, minerals, hormones etc) required for embryonic growth and development. Around d 13 of incubation they begin to imbibe the fluid. This phenomena of amniotic fluid consumption by late term embryo is utilized to inoculate essential nutrients that would reach the GIT of chicks.
In-ovo feeding method
Using sterile microlitre injection kit and needles under a controlled environment nutrients are injected into the egg shell by creating a small hole without damaging the membrane. Paraffin film is used to seal the injection site aseptically and the egg is placed back in the incubator.
Advantage
- Better hatchability and increased body weight at hatch.
- Improved growth rate, body weight and feed efficiency.
- Increased total digestive tract capacity.
- Improved response to enteric pathogens and immune status.
- Reduced post hatch morbidity and mortality.
- Increased breast muscle yield.
- Reduced incidence of skeletal muscle disorder.
Limitations
- Requirement of skilled person to complete the operation.
- High maintenance cost. Therefore, suitable for large commercial farm only.
Effect of in ovo feeding in chicken
Effect on gastrointestinal tract
Healthy GIT is essential for efficient digestion and metabolism of feed. It also act as barrier against invading pathogen. In the final phase of incubation amniotic fluids are naturally consumed by embryo. Intestine of embryo faces some cellular and morphological changes during this time such as rapid enterocyte proliferation and differentiation, increased capacity of nutrient uptake and absorption, and enhanced gene expression which are related to digestion and absorption nutrient. Deprivation of feed for a long time early in life can negatively affect villus surface area and enterocyte length and it has adverse effect on nutrient utilization and growth. Inoculation of nutrient through the amniotic fluid directly reach the intestine. Gut has faster growth rate than any other body part in first few days of chicks life. Newly hatched chick has immature GIT. For enhanced nutrient digestion and absorption early development of gut is essential. Early nutrient supplementation aids in development of healthy GIT before it is exposed to pathogenic microbes. For optimum performance and overall health of poultry healthy gastrointestinal tract is crucial.
Effect on immunity
Good health and sound immunity of chick can be obtained by early access to nutrients. Early nutrient access help to develop immunity either by supplying nutrients for antigenic activity or by providing nutrients for lymphoid cell proliferation and differentiation which aids in production of immunoglobulin. In ovo feeding modify the gut microbiome population and thereby improve immunocompetence to enteric antigens. Gut of newly hatched chick is sterile and is highly susceptible to colonization by harmful microbes. Pathogens attack the mucin layer of gut mucosa. Research findings showed augmentation of villus surface area at hatch and 3 day post hatch by approximately 27% and 21% respectively by in ovo feeding. Fraction of goblet cell related to increased mucin mRNA expression improved by 50% in comparison to control after 36 hour of in ovo feeding. It helps in resistance against enteric pathogen colonization. Cell mediated immunity is enhanced by in ovo injection of linoleic acid while Vitamin E can enhance humoral immunity and antioxidant status of chicken.
Future scope
- Low cost, portable machine is required for small scale farming operation.
- Combination of two in ovo nutrients will give better result to chicken.
References
Bhanja, S. K., & Mandal, A. B. (2005). Effect of in ovo injection of critical amino acids on pre-and post-hatch growth, immunocompetence and development of digestive organs in broiler chickens. Asian-australasian journal of animal sciences, 18(4), 524-531.
Groff-Urayama, P., Padilha, J., Einsfeld, S., Pertile, S., Gorges, M., de Andrade, M., … & Takahashi, S. (2019). Performance, intestinal morphometry, and incubation parameters of broiler chickens submitted to in ovo feeding with different techniques and amino acids. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 99(4), 732-740.
Hamadani, H., Alam Khan, A., Banday, M. T., & Hamadani, A. (2013). Early chick feeding and in-ovo nutrition two managemental strategies to combat the effects of delayed feeding. International Journal of Modern Plant and Animal Sciences, 1, 123-141.
Jha, R., Singh, A. K., Yadav, S., Berrocoso, J. F. D., & Mishra, B. (2019). Early nutrition programming (in ovo and post-hatch feeding) as a strategy to modulate gut health of poultry. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6, 82.
Kadam, M. M., Barekatain, M. R., K Bhanja, S., & Iji, P. A. (2013). Prospects of in ovo feeding and nutrient supplementation for poultry: The science and commercial applications—A review. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(15), 3654-3661.
Kanagaraju, P. (2021). Effect of in-ovo injection of critical nutrients and early post hatch feeding of early chick nutritional supplement on the chick quality characteristics of commercial broiler chicken.
Kornasio, R., Halevy, O., Kedar, O., & Uni, Z. (2011). Effect of in ovo feeding and its interaction with timing of first feed on glycogen reserves, muscle growth, and body weight. Poultry Science, 90(7), 1467-1477.
Kucharska-Gaca, J., Kowalska, E., & Dębowska, M. (2017). In ovo feeding-technology of the future-a review. Ann. Anim. Sci, 17(4), 979-992.
Pandey, K. K., Koley, S., Ojha, B. K., Kurechiya, N., Singh, S., & Singh, A. (2021). In ovo feeding: Viewpoints on the current status, application and prospect in poultry. Indian J Anim Health, 60(2), 172-182.
Roto, S. M., Kwon, Y. M., & Ricke, S. C. (2016). Applications of in ovo technique for the optimal development of the gastrointestinal tract and the potential influence on the establishment of its microbiome in poultry. Frontiers in veterinary science, 3, 63.
Selim, S., Abdel-Megeid, N. S., Abou-Elnaga, M. K., & Mahmoud, S. F. (2021). Early nutrition with different diets composition versus fasting on immunity-related gene expression and histomorphology of digestive and lymphoid organs of layer-type chicks. Animals, 11(6), 1568.
