Effect of In-Ovo Organic Zinc Injected and High Temperature During the Late Stage of Chicken Eggs Incubation on Post Hatch Performance

Abstract

THIS study aimed to investigate the effect of in ovo injection of organic zinc and eggs subjected to high temperature (39.8oC) during the late stage of incubation on post-hatch performance and immune response of local Egyptian strain (Bandarah) chicks. A total of 400 fertile eggs were weighed and randomly distributed to 8 groups with 5 replicates 10 eggs each. On the 14th day of incubation, eggs were injected asT1: Eggs not injected (control), T2: eggs injected with 1ml saline solution, T3: eggs injected with 1ml saline solution containing 50µg Zn-Met, T4: eggs injected with a saline solution containing 100µg Zn-Met. Treatments from T1 to T4 incubated at normal temperature of 37.8oc and 60%RH, treatments from T5 toT8 injected similar doses as described and subjected to high temperature of 39.8oc when eggs are transferred from setter to hatcher machine for 3 hours at 18, 19, and 20 days of incubation. Results showed that in ovo injection with 50 and 100 µg Zn-Met/egg and subjected to high temperature during late incubation could improve hatching, chicks’ weight, antioxidant activities, and increased WBC,s and lymphocyte. Group injected with 100µg Zn-Met/egg was more effective in improving high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, zinc, and T3.