The current study aimed to optimize artificial insemination in aged broiler breeder hens in two experiments. In the first experiment, the effect of (two) different diluted semen temperatures (5 and 25 °C) of Hubbard rooster (40 roosters, 58 weeks of age) on fertility, hatchability and sperm penetration (SP) rate in the perivitelline layer of Hubbard hen (180 hens) were investigated. In the second experiment, three (different) sperm concentrations (100 (C100), 200 (C200), and 400 (C400) million sperm in 0.25 mL per hen) of Hubbard roosters (40 roosters, 62 weeks of age) on fertility, hatchability and SP rate of Hubbard broiler breeder hens (270 hens) were explored. In the first experiment, the results showed that the temperature of 5 °C of diluted semen compared to the 25 °C, increased percentage of hatchability of set eggs, hatchability of fertile eggs, and SP and decreased early embryonic mortality. The results of the second experiment showed the highest percentage of fertility and SP rate were observed at treatment C400. Also, in this experiment that highest percentage of hatchability of set eggs and hatchability of fertile eggs and lowest early embryonic mortality were observed at treatment C400. Return on investment (ROI) of the treatments C200 and C400 was approximately 2.9 and 1.4, respectively. In overall, the results of this study showed that (in attention to ROI and hatchability) to optimize artificial insemination of aged broiler breeder hens we can use a sperm concentration of 200 to 400 million in 0.25 mL per hens at 5 °C.

Background: The immune response of aged broiler breeder hens is influenced by many factors including obesity and aged lymphatic organs, but may improve by increasing the bioavailability of various nutrients such as zinc (Zn). Dietary supplementation of phytase can improve Zn availability in senescent broiler breeder hens. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementary zinc oxide (ZnO) and phytase in a maize-soybean meal-based diet on immune responses of broiler breeder hens. Methods: In a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, a total of 128 hens were randomly assigned into eight groups. The birds received two levels of phytase (0 or 300 U/kg diet) and four levels of ZnO (30, 60, 90, and 120 mg/kg diet) for 13 successive wk (59-72 wk of age). Results: Results showed that phytase supplementation significantly increased immunoglobulin M (IgM), cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) responses, total number of leukocytes, percentage of lymphocytes, and heterophil to lymphocyte ratios. The percentage of basophils and monocytes, however, decreased with phytase supplementation. Supplementation of ZnO increased antisheep red blood cells (SRBC) antibody titer, IgM, CBH responses, the total number of leukocytes, and the percentage of lymphocytes. Dietary supplementation of ZnO decreased the percentage of heterophil, and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. A significant interaction effect of phytase and ZnO was found on the total number of leukocytes and percentage of lymphocytes. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of ZnO (90 mg/kg diet) and phytase had some positive effects on improving immune responses in broiler breeder hens.

Malformations which occur during the development of the avian body organs can lead to structural and functional abnormalities. Most defects are recognized at hatching, but some go undetected until somewhat later. The cause of the majority of animal congenital malformations is unknown. A significant proportion of congenital malformations of unknown cause are likely to have an important genetic component. Malformations of the gastrointestinal and urogenital systems have been observed. This report describes a rare case of duplicate vents in a broiler breeder 33 week-old hen. A normal calcified egg was present in the left oviduct and right oviduct was atrophied. Both cloaca were anatomically normal, and each of them had a complete structure of coprodeum, urodeum and proctodeum. Double vents’ anomalies in breeder hens were only reported by Crew and Roberts in 1928 - 1929 and have not been reported after this time yet.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of hatchability in aging broiler breeder has economic justification.OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary Anethum graveolens essential oil on egg quality, some plasma metabolites and hatchability in broiler breeder hens.METHODS: A total number of eighty hens and eight cocks from Ross 308 strain of 105 weeks old were divided into four groups with two replicates within each (10hens+1cock). The diets were supplemented with out essential oil (Control) and with 10, 20 and 40 ml essential oil/100kg diets for four weeks.RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the groups in Haugh unit and yolk index. While, there were significant differences in egg weight, egg shape index, shell thickness, shell ratio, yolk color and shell weight. Plasma triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and egg yolk cholesterol concentration were not influenced by dietary essential oil of Anethum graveolens. Whereas essential oil increased plasma cholesterol significantly, it also significantly decreased plasma glucose. Hatchability and fertility were positively affected by supplementation of essential oil in the diet.CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that supplementing diet with Anethum graveolens essential oil improved hatchability of total eggs set of broiler breeders.

This study investigated the effects of in ovo injection of organic manganese on the hatchability of eggs of broiler breeder hens. It also evaluated the performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical parameters, liver enzymes, immune system response and intestinal microbiota in offspring broiler chickens. For the in ovo injection, 320 fertile eggs were selected from the Ross 308 breeder hens’ flock at 55 weeks with the same average weight (65±1 g). Treatment 1: negative control group (no injection), treatment 2: positive control (injection of 0.272 mL of normal saline solution), treatment 3 (Mn20): injection of 0.272 mL of a solution containing 73.52 μg of organic manganese (20 μg for each egg), and treatment 4 (Mn30): injection of 0.272 mL solution containing 110.28 μg of organic manganese (30 μg for each egg). Hatched chicks were raised based on a completely random design, including four treatments and four replications with commercial diets based on corn-soybean meal. The results showed that in ovo injection of organic manganese led to an improvement in the hatchability compared to the positive control treatment, but the highest percentage belonged to the treatment without injection (negative control) (P < 0.05). In the whole period, no negative effects were observed on production performance, carcass characteristics and gut morphometry after injection (P > 0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, atherogenic index, protein, albumin, globulin uric acid, creatine kinase, erythrocytes and the average volume of red blood cells of chickens increased in the groups injected with organic manganese (P < 0.05) but alkaline phosphatase decreased (P < 0.05). Birds injected with organic manganese had the lowest leukocytes and heterophils and the highest lymphocytes (P < 0.05). In addition, a reduction of coliform and Escherichia coli populations and an increase of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria after in ovo injection of organic manganese was found (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in ovo injection of organic manganese, without having a positive effect on the hatchability, had both positive and negative effects on the biochemical parameters of the blood and the immune system. Moreover, it was effective in improving the chicken’s cecal microbiota.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of in ovo injection of organic manganese (Mn) on the hatching traits and performance of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 320 eggs from the Ross 308 strain, with an average weight of 65 g, were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly divided into four groups: four negative control groups (no injection), one positive control group (in ovo injection of 0.272 mL of normal saline solution), Manganese I group (in ovo injection of 0.013 mg of organic Mn), and Manganese II group (in ovo injection of 0.026 mg of organic Mn). Results: The injected treatments showed a significant decrease in the percentage of hatched chicks compared to the negative control group (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the in ovo injection of Mn caused a significant increase in the final weight of the birds and their feed consumption (P < 0.0001). The experimental treatments also affected blood parameters, with blood triglyceride, cholesterol, and lipoproteins levels demonstrating a decrease compared to the negative and positive controls (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The in ovo injection of organic Mn showed favorable results in broiler chickens' performance indicators while showing no impact on immune response and microbial population.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of vitamins and trace minerals recommendations in broiler breeder hens on growth performance, immunity response and bone parameters in the progeny. 520 broiler breeder hens aged 50 weeks were used for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design with 13 treatments and 4 replications, with 10 hens in each replication, and one rooster for every 10 hens. The experimental treatments included two dietary nutrient recommendation based on Ross 308 parent stock and 4th Brazilian tables for poultry, three levels of 100, 80, and 60 percent vitamins and trace minerals based on Ross recommendation, and two levels of 100, 80 vitamins and trace minerals based on Brazilian table recommendations '. Experimental treatments included T1(RM100, RV100), T2(RM80, RV100), T3(RM60, RV100), T4(RM100, RV80), T5(RM80, RV80), T6(RM60, RV80), T7(RM100, RV60), T8(RM80, RV60), T9(RM60, RV60), T10(BM100, BV100), T11(BM80, BV100), T12(BM100, BV80) and T13(BM80, BV80). Then, the progenies from each treatment were hatched and penned separately and raised for 35 days under standard conditions. The level of vitamins and minerals consumed in the diet of progeny was 50% of the Ross-broiler recommendations (2021). The results showed that the average feed intake from (ADFI) 1 to 35 days of age, femur diaphysis diameter, daily weight gain from (ADG) 1 to 35 days of age, and feed conversion ratio corrected for initial weight from (FCRC) 1 to 35 days of age were statistically significantly different between the experimental diets (P<0. 05). Similarly, the effect of the experimental treatments on one-day-old chick weight, femur weight, bone ash percentage, bone density index, influenza and Newcastle disease titers was not significant (P>0. 05). In addition, the results showed that the femur breaking force was significantly different between the experimental treatments (P<0. 05). The results also showed that the level of immunoglobulin M in treatment T3(RM60, RV100) was significantly higher than treatments T1(RM100, RV100), T8(RM80, RV60) and T13(BM80, BV80). The results also showed that statistically, treatment T3(RM60, RV100) had a higher immunoglobulin T titer than other treatments (P<0. 05). Overall, the best response based on hemorrhagic immune response was observed in treatment 3 (RM60, RV100), based on femur strength index in treatment 2 (RM80, RV100), and based on feed conversion ratio (1-35 days of age), in treatment 13 (BM80, BV80).

Beak lesions were observed in 50-weeks-old broiler breeder roosters reared under a separate sex mash diet feeding, with low in protein and energy for roosters. All roosters kept with hens showed deformities in the upper and lower beak but the lesions were not found in roosters kept separately. Hens’ feed troughs had been covered with galvanized wire grids to exclude the males eating from hens’ troughs. There was approximately 5% mortality among roosters with the beak lesions. A marked reduction (23%) on hatchability was observed, but no change in egg production occurred. The beak lesions were the major cause of male’s culling in the flock. Histopathological examination of the lesions revealed that the epidermis, keratin layer and underlying connective tissue of the beaks were severely affected by necrosis. Bacteriological cultures yielded, mainly, growth of hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus, and hematological tests showed a mild increase in the number of the white blood cells. The case reported here appeared to be a management-related problem. These findings have implications for poultry industry.

This study evaluated the ability of different types of birds to derive energy from corn and soybean meal (SBM) using the reference diet substitution method. The corn and SBM were combined into a reference diet at 60 and 30%, respectively. Other ingredients, including dicalcium phosphate, limestone, salt, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, held constant across the reference and test diets.  A total of 36 broiler breeder hens (Ross 308, 62 weeks old), 72 male broiler chickens (Ross 308, 35 days old) and 36 commercial layer hens (Hy-line W36, 40 weeks old) were used. The apparent metabolizable energy corrected for zero nitrogen retention (AMEn), apparent ileal digestible energy (AIDE) of corn and SBM and apparent ileal digestibility coefficient (AIDC) of nitrogen, crude fat and gross energy for whole diets were evaluated. The activities of intestinal digestive enzymes and intestinal morphology were measured and compared among the dietary treatments and birds. The AMEn of SBM for broiler breeder hens was significantly higher than that of broiler chickens and commercial layer hens (2525.50, 2215.10 and 2310.80 kcal/kg DM respectively; P < 0.05); in contrast, the corn AMEn for broiler breeder hens was lower than that of broiler chickens and laying hens (3126.67, 3382.11 and 3305.59 kcal/kg DM respectively; P < 0.05).  The AIDE values of corn and SBM were not significantly different between the subjected birds (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the difference between AMEn and AIDE for both corn and SBM was not significant in any experiment (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that broiler breeder hens have a distinct capacity for deriving energy from corn and SBM compared to broiler chickens and layer hens. This highlights the impracticality of using a single set of energy values for these feedstuffs in poultry feed formulations.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of omega-3 and omega-6 calcium fat powders on performance, hatchability, serum lipids, abdominal fat, and ovarian follicle count in Ross-308 broiler breeder hens (65 week-old). The experiment was performed in a repeated measurement design with 84 hens and 28 roosters with seven treatments (four replicates) during three months. The experimental groups included control group (no fat powder), 1. 5 and 3% of animal omega-3 calcium fat powder of fish oil origin (ω 3F), plant omega-3 calcium fat powder of linseed oil origin (ω 3L), and omega-6 calcium fat powder of soybean oil origin (ω 6S). The results showed that the highest average of HDEP was belonged to the experimental groups containing 1. 5% ω 3F (61. 98), and ω 3L (60. 25) without significant difference with together (P> 0. 05). However, among experimental groups, the highest egg mass (44. 78 g/h/d) was obtained from consumption of 1. 5% ω 3F (P<0. 05). The highest concentrations of triglycerides (1806. 8 mg/dL), cholesterol (206. 25 mg/dL), and low density lipoprotein (244/25 mg/dL) of serum were belonged to control group that was significantly different from other experimental groups (P<0. 05). The percentage of hatchability of fertile eggs was improved by consuming diets containing fat powder, except 3% ω 6S, when compared to control (P<0. 05). Overall, considering the production performance, hatchability and economic explanation of diets, it seems that addition of omega-3 calcium fat powder at the level of 1. 5% (ω 3F and ω 3L) is affordable and can have a positive effect on old broiler breeder hens.