Revolutionary In-Ovo Technology: Enhancing Poultry Health and Growth

Improving post-hatch growth through in-ovo nutrition techniques

Did you know you can revolutionize your poultry farming practices with cutting-edge advancements in in-ovo technology?

Traditionally known for its role in vaccination, in ovo technology is now emerging as a game-changer to deliver essential nutrients directly into embryonated eggs resulting in enhanced post-hatch growth, improved immune responses, and better development of gastrointestinal tracts.

Our comprehensive review explores the practical application of in ovo technology and its impact on the perinatal period of poultry development.

Imagine the benefits to your poultry operation, potentially minimizing the use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs). Early feed intake plays a pivotal role in organ and gastrointestinal tract development, and our exploration delves into the significance of this self-developing process.  We also examine the hurdles to early feed intake, such as prolonged starvation, and the detrimental effects of delayed intake, including compromised immunological responses and hindered intestinal development. Delve into the scientific intricacies of how prolonged starvation impacts intestinal villi height and crypt depth. Uncover the sustenance journey of chicks from hatching to their first feed intake, highlighting the critical perinatal period for growth and development. Embrace solutions such as immediate post-hatch feeding and in in ovo nutrient delivery, proven to elevate performance during this crucial phase.

Precision Nutrition in Poultry: Unveiling the Wonders of in ovo Technology

in ovo technology stands out as a beacon of precision livestock farming in the poultry sector, influencing the internal conditions of eggs through bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, vaccines, and drugs. This method involves the mechanical administration of selected feed additives, including carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics, nano-particles, vaccines, and drugs, at specific sites within eggs during incubation (Saeed et al., 2019). Initially, in ovo technology was recognized for its efficacy in vaccination during the 18th day of incubation against infectious diseases. However, it has now evolved to deliver a range of nutrients, resulting in improved post-hatch growth performance, enhanced energy reserves, stimulated digestive organ development, increased metabolic and absorptive capacity, and boosted immune responses in hatchlings (Kadam et al., 2013; Bhanja et al., 2008; Bhanja & Mandal, 2005). The injection sites, play a crucial role in ensuring the effective consumption and utilization of the injected substances along with the amniotic fluid.

Experts suggest that late-phase incubation is the ideal moment for nutrient delivery, allowing direct contact with the embryo for optimal results (Uni and Ferket 2003). With the transformative capabilities of in ovo technology, you can elevate your poultry farming precision to new heights.

Nutrient Power-Up: in ovo Feeding for Poultry Marvels

In modern poultry production,day-old chicks undergo a staggering 5,000% weight increase within 5–6 weeks. Meeting their nutritional demands becomes of utmost importance. in ovo feeding emerges as a key strategy, aiming to expose developing embryos to a spectrum of nutrients crucial for stimulating gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, enhancing immunity, bolstering antioxidant defenses, promoting beneficial microbial populations, boosting digestion and absorption, and alleviating the adverse effects of starvation (Choct 2009). Noy and Sklan (1998) underscore the significance of early nutraceutical feeding via in ovo routes, emphasizing its role in promoting growth while maintaining optimal energy status and metabolic physiology.

Amino Acid Advancements: Fueling Growth, Development, and Immunity

Amino acids take center stage in the in ovo feeding narrative, showcasing their multifaceted impact on energy metabolism, growth, muscle development, and gut health. Noteworthy outcomes include improved liver and pectoral muscle energy reserves, upregulated plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose, enhanced hatch weight, and early post-hatch performance. The ratio of chick to egg weight experiences a 1.6% improvement, alongside significant enhancements in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and humoral immune response against sheep red blood cells. Muscle development benefits from increased relative muscle weight, and elevated plasma concentrations of thyroid hormone, albumin, and total protein, contributing to improved hatchability, chick quality, and weight at hatch.

Carbohydrate Chronicles: Nurturing Gut Health and Beyon

Carbohydrates play a pivotal role in gut development through in ovo feeding, improving jejunal villus height by up to 45% in developing embryos. This comprehensive approach stimulates organ development, and enhances the relative weight of the small intestine, gizzard, and proventriculus in post-hatch chicks. Carbohydrates also contribute to mucin gene expression, goblet cell proliferation, and increased villus height, optimizing embryo growth by sparing proteins and fatty acids typically used for gluconeogenesis.

Mineral Marvels: Fortifying Gut Health and Immunity

in ovo feeding of minerals showcases improvements in the expression level of mucin genes, increased body weight, and enhanced immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. These mineral interventions not only contribute to gut development but also fortify immune responses, underlining their holistic impact on poultry health.

Synbiotics: Allies in Growth and Gut Harmony

Synbiotics have positive effects on body weight gain, feed intake, meat quality, immune functions, and physiological parameters. Their role extends beyond muscle development to fostering a healthy gastrointestinal tract microbiome, establishing resilience against pathogenic bacteria.

Vitamin Visions: Nourishing Poultry Potential

In research on folate metabolism and immunomodulation in broilers, positive outcomes were observed, including an enhancement in the plasma concentrations of lysozyme and immunoglobulins A and M. Furthermore, there was an upregulation in the expression of immune-related genes and an increase in folic acid concentration.

The study underscores the pivotal role of folic acid in essential physiological processes such as cell division, cell repair, and tissue growth. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing folic acid intake for promoting overall health and immunity in broilers.

in ovo Feeding of Nutraceuticals Enhances Poultry Bird Antioxidant Status

Fast-growing avian embryogenesis exposes poultry birds to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, byproducts of normal metabolism that induce oxidative stress and disrupt physiological and cellular balance (Deeming and Pike, 2013). This oxidative stress triggers the overproduction of ROS, including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals, leading to increased antioxidant defense and cellular apoptosis (Sarkar et al., 2015).

In addressing this challenge, in ovo and first-day nutrient uptake play a crucial role in bolstering the antioxidative capacity of organs essential for stress alleviation. Global warming exacerbates challenges for poultry birds, exposing them to heat stress, which adversely impacts productivity (Lara and Rostagno, 2013; Oke et al., 2017; Oke, 2018). Chickens, lacking sweat glands, are particularly susceptible to thermal stress, resulting in elevated body temperatures, oxidative stress, and metabolic amino acid alterations (Brosnan and Brosnan, 2006; Chowdhury et al., 2014; Oke et al., 2021a; Chowdhury et al., 2021; Kpomasse et al., 2021).

Research has shown that in ovo feeding of L-leucine (L-Leu) enhances thermotolerance, reduces food intake, and improves lipid metabolism under acute heat stress in broiler chicks. Essential amino acids, including Leu and isoleucine (Ile), are significantly modulated in the liver and plasma, contributing to L-Leu-mediated thermotolerance (13).

Nutraceuticals, such as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and vitamin C, play a vital role in enhancing the production and functional activity of enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase. These compounds have demonstrated diverse effects, including downregulating oxidative stress in Clostridium perfringens infected broilers, improving antioxidant enzyme activities, mitigating the negative impact of heat stress, and enhancing the molecular expression of heat shock proteins and anti-inflammatory cytokines in post-hatch chicks (Alagawany et al., 2021; Arain et al., 2022b).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Dr. Jose Maria “Butch” P. Yabut, a highly experienced veterinarian and key figure in poultry farm management, sheds light on the prospects and challenges of in ovo feeding in the Philippines. While the benefits of this novel technology are supported by extensive literature and scientific trials worldwide, challenges persist in perfecting the procedure and nutrition. Bacterial and fungal contamination during eggshell puncture poses a significant hurdle, echoing similar concerns in in ovo vaccination implementation. Notably, maintaining sterility in nutrient administration remains a critical consideration. Additionally, the substantial cost of in ovo machines acts as a major deterrent, limiting its adoption primarily to large integrations. Although Dr. Yabut’s insights underscore the ongoing efforts to optimize in ovo feeding and its cautious implementation within the poultry industry, nevertheless, the ongoing efforts to optimize would soon deliver all the promising possibilities of in ovo feeding to improve poultry production.

For a comprehensive exploration of this topic, refer to the full article at https://www.researchgate.net.