Effect of in-ovo injection of glucose and egg white protein on the production performance and gut histomorphometry of broiler chicken

A biological trial was carried out to investigate the effect of in ovo injection of glucose and egg white protein on the production performance and gut histomorphometry of broilers. 500 hatching eggs with uniform weight (68±1g) were randomly allotted to five treatment groups each with five replicates of 20 eggs each and incubated. The eggs were injected with one of the following nutrient solutions on 18th day of incubation viz. 0.5 ml of 25 % glucose (T3), 0.5 ml of 12% egg white protein (T4), 0.5 ml of 25 % glucose + egg white protein 12% (T5) into the amnion along this100 eggs served as non injected control (T1) and 100 eggs injected with normal saline (T2) which also served as sham control. The hole was sealed and the period of incubation was continued till 21st day. After hatching, 400 chicks were randomized in to five treatments of five replicates each with 16 chicks. Data on hatchability, hatch weight, bi-weekly body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, FCR and villi height, width, crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were recorded and analysed statistically for significant difference. Results revealed that in ovo injection of glucose, egg white protein and their combination significantly (P<0.05) increased hatchability, chick weight, body weight and livability. However, the feed consumption was significantly (P<0.01) higher in glucose, egg white protein and glucose + egg white protein injected birds compared to non injected control and sham groups. The FCR was significantly (P<0.05) improved in all in ovo injected groups compared to control and sham. In ovo feeding significantly (P<0.05) increased the duodenal, jejuna and ileal villi height, width and crypt depth (P<0.01) compared to control birds. In ovo injection of glucose and EWP either alone or in combination improved the productive performance, gut histomorphology and net profit of the broilers.