In ovo feeding and its impact on performance post-hatch

Abstract:

A Review The physiological basis and practical application of in ovo feeding as well as early post-hatch feeding have been reviewed with an emphasis on their effect interactions with hatchability, quality of chicks, growth, and performance in broiler chickens. The peri-hatch period is described as an important transition because it is when increasing energy demand coincides with changes in oxygen availability and glycogen utilization as well as the switch from dependence on egg resources to outside feed and water. This review also discussed the roles of mitochondria, oxidative balance, AMPK-mTOR axes in nutrient utilization, tissue growth together with intestinal maturation, amniotic-fluid consumption, programming intestinal barriers, microbiomes, and mucosal immunity. Evidence shows that feed and water given early support metabolic status, hydration, and initial intestinal development; however the effects of delayed feeding vary with duration, strain, sex, and age at measurement not all changes persisting to market age. Technical controls for in ovo feeding are reviewed: injection site timing depth characteristics of the solution used volume and dose microbial purity differences between manual and automated application as well as incubation condition interaction. The use of carbohydrates amino acids vitamins antioxidants probiotics prebiotics plant-derived compounds is also evaluated. This evidence further stresses that the efficacy of any such substance will depend on a clearly defined physiological objective and safe dose window plus improvement in one metabolic or molecular indicator does not mean improved performance. In ovo interventions may induce functional programming that persists after hatch and may improve selected aspects of heat tolerance however responses are not uniform and may be beneficial or restrictive. The review concludes that successful application requires integrated assessment of hatchability chick quality performance plus intestinal immune metabolic functions together with protocol standardization appropriate experimental units verification of safety reproducibility commercial feasibility.