Nucleotide supplementation in broiler breeder diets

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of nucleotide supplementation on broiler breeders diets regarding egg hatchability and on progeny performance. The nucleotides were derived from yeast.

Two trials were conducted. The first trial with 80 Cobb breeder females, from 25 to 45 weeks of age, in 2 treatments with (5 kg per tonne) or without nucleotide rich product called Hilyses. Each treatment consisted of 10 replications, with 4 breeders in each (4 birds/m2). Breeders were inseminated when they were 35 and 45 weeks old. Eggs were collected and incubated from the 3rd day until the 10th day post insemination. Egg production (EP%), egg fertility (EF%) and hatchability of incubated eggs (HIE%) and fertile eggs (HFE%) were evaluated.

The second trial consisted of 2 groups of 150 male chicks. One group originated from breeders fed nucleotide supplemented diets. Another group originated from the breeders not given dietary nucleotides and 10 replications with 15 straight run chicks in each. All broiler groups received the same diets over a 42 day grow out period (1 to 21, 22 to 35 and 36 to 42 days). Study criteria included BWG, FI and, F/G at 21 and 42 days.

Nucleotide supplementation in the diet of broiler breeders improved egg production (1.6%), egg fertility (1.7%), hatchability of incubated eggs (4.1%) and hatchability of fertile eggs (2.3%). Offspring from 35 week old breeders fed diets supplemented with 5% nucleotides had improved body weight gain (3.45 kg vs 3.30 kg) and F/G (1.61 vs 1.66) versus chicks from breeders not supplemented dietary nucleotides.

Progeny from 45 week old breeders fed dietary nucleotides also had better body weight gain (3.46 kg vs 3.24 kg) and feed conversion (1.60 vs 1.70) versus broilers hatched from breeders whose diet was not supplemented with nucleotides. In summary, this study demonstrated that supplementation of nucleotides to broiler breeders increases the number of live chicks by 6% and appears to have a positive carryover effect on their progeny performance for both body weight gain and feed conversion.

Source: Melina Aparecida Bonato, Glycon Duarte Santos and Ricardo Luís Carmo Barbalho, Industrial Comércio Exportação e Importação, São Paulo, Brazil, Lúcio Francelino Araújo, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Pirassununga, Brazil

Troy Lohrmann, Quality Technology International, Inc., Elgin, IL USA, Proceedings of the 2014 International Poultry Scientific Forum, Atlanta, GA USA