Effect of in ovo injection of amino acids on growth, immune response, development of digestive organs and carcass yields of broiler

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of in ovo injection in broiler eggs on subsequent post hatch growth performance. The eggs were injected with 20 naturally occurring amino acids at concentration of 0.25 and 0.5% each on 7th and 14th d of incubation. The chicks were reared in battery brooders up to 6 weeks of age and provided with standard broiler rations. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the body weight gain of the birds, but numerically higher gain (33.6–41.2 g) was recorded at 3 weeks of age in AA injected on 7th day than control, whereas at 6 weeks of age in ovo injection with 0.5% AA had 77.7g higher weight gain than un-injected control. Neither the concentration of in ovo injected amino acids nor the days of embryonic age had any significant effect on body weight gains. During early stage of growth (0–3 wk) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in some of the AA injected groups. Though there were no significant difference (P>0.05) in the weight of immune organs in AA injected birds and un-injected control, the weights of thymus (P<0.072) and spleen (P<0.088) were comparatively higher in AA injected group than control. Higher immune response, and thymus and spleen weight were recorded in groups injected AA on 14th day of embryonic age. In ovo injection of 0.5% conc. of AA and injection on 14th day had comparatively larger digestive organs than uninjected control at 3 weeks of age. The carcass characteristics and cut-up part yields at 6 weeks of age did not vary between AA injected and control birds.