Effects of Intra-Egg Injection of Vitamin C on the Eggshell Mineral Absorption,
Embryo Mortality and Hematological Variables in Chicks at Hot Incubation Temperature
Abstract:
This study examined whether preincubation injection of vitamin
C intra-eggs influences the eggshell mineral absorption, embryo mortality and
hematological characteristics of chicks from eggs incubated at usual or hot
temperatures. Five hundred fertile eggs from broiler breeder (Cobb®)
were used in an experiment consisting of a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement (five
treatments: no injection or injection of 0%, 2, 4, or 6% vitamin C/100 μL
water; two incubation temperatures: 37.5°C and 39.0°C). The percentages
of vitamin C injected into the eggs did not influence the hematological characteristics
of the chicks when compared to non-injected controls. However, chicks from eggs
injected with 4% vitamin C had a higher total number of Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
and levels of Hematocrit (HCT) and Hemoglobin (HGB) when incubation occurred
at hot temperatures. The lowest percentage of Phosphorus (P) from the eggshells
incubated at hot temperatures was observed with 2% vitamin C and the highest
with 6% vitamin C. Embryo mortality was higher in eggs injected with 2 and 4%
of vitamin C than in eggs not injected with vitamin C. The data indicate that
intra-eggs injected vitamin C influences the phosphorus absorption from the
shell and injection of 4% vitamin C improves potential gas transport in the
blood of chicks from eggs incubated at hot temperatures but increases the embryo
mortality.
How to cite this article
Sarah Sgavioli, Vitor Rosa de Almeida, Maria Fernanda F.M. Praes, Tamiris Iara Vicentini, Joao Batista Matos, Viviane de Souza Morita, Euclides Braga Malheiros and Isabel Cristina Boleli, 2013. Effects of Intra-Egg Injection of Vitamin C on the Eggshell Mineral Absorption,
Embryo Mortality and Hematological Variables in Chicks at Hot Incubation Temperature. International Journal of Poultry Science, 12: 456-463.
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