Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings

Breeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bio...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: E. Ivarsson, H. Wall, M. Boyner, G. Cervin, H. Pavia, E. Wattrang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Animal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123003373
_version_ 1797384136509358080
author E. Ivarsson
H. Wall
M. Boyner
G. Cervin
H. Pavia
E. Wattrang
author_facet E. Ivarsson
H. Wall
M. Boyner
G. Cervin
H. Pavia
E. Wattrang
author_sort E. Ivarsson
collection DOAJ
description Breeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bioactive compounds, and dietary supplementation with algal extracts have shown improved gut health and immune responses in both pigs and poultry. The aim of this study was to investigate if feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract, to broiler breeders can affect breeder hens’ antibody responses to vaccination, egg quality and transfer of antibodies and nutrients to the egg and thereby improve the quality of newly hatched chicks. Forty-five hens and nine roosters of the parent lines of the fast-growing broiler Ross 308 were included in the experiment where hens were 31 weeks at the start. The hens were housed individually and fed one of three dietary treatments for seven weeks; (a) control, (b) addition of 0.6% algal meal or (c) addition of 0.08% algal extract. The hens were given a booster vaccination against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) 21 days after the start of experiment. During experimental days 32–42, hens were naturally mated every 5th day and hatching eggs were collected. A total of 255 chicks were hatched, and chick quality was assessed. Moreover, on chick day three, blood was collected from 48 focal chickens and total immunoglobulin Y levels and specific titres to IBV in serum were determined. The results showed that feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract to broiler breeders did not affect egg production, egg quality, antibody responses to vaccination or transfer of antibodies from hen to chick. However, feeding intact algae significantly increased the levels of iodine and decreased the level of selenium in the eggs and resulted in a lower proportion of chicks with maximum quality score. Interestingly, algal feeding, both intact and as an extract, increased the abdominal fat pad in broiler breeders by about 17% without affecting BW. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler breeder diets with algal extract from Saccharina latissima, but not intact algal meal is a promising dietary strategy to increase the abdominal fat pad without causing any adverse effects on nutrient level in eggs or chick quality.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T21:32:11Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6742b0d652fa4df3bf3a4eca21529b71
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1751-7311
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T21:32:11Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Animal
spelling doaj.art-6742b0d652fa4df3bf3a4eca21529b712023-12-21T07:29:53ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112023-12-011712101020Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlingsE. Ivarsson0H. Wall1M. Boyner2G. Cervin3H. Pavia4E. Wattrang5Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. 7024, SE 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; Corresponding author.Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. 7024, SE 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. 7024, SE 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, SE 452 96 Strömstad, SwedenDepartment of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, SE 452 96 Strömstad, SwedenDepartment of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, SE 751 89 Uppsala, SwedenBreeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bioactive compounds, and dietary supplementation with algal extracts have shown improved gut health and immune responses in both pigs and poultry. The aim of this study was to investigate if feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract, to broiler breeders can affect breeder hens’ antibody responses to vaccination, egg quality and transfer of antibodies and nutrients to the egg and thereby improve the quality of newly hatched chicks. Forty-five hens and nine roosters of the parent lines of the fast-growing broiler Ross 308 were included in the experiment where hens were 31 weeks at the start. The hens were housed individually and fed one of three dietary treatments for seven weeks; (a) control, (b) addition of 0.6% algal meal or (c) addition of 0.08% algal extract. The hens were given a booster vaccination against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) 21 days after the start of experiment. During experimental days 32–42, hens were naturally mated every 5th day and hatching eggs were collected. A total of 255 chicks were hatched, and chick quality was assessed. Moreover, on chick day three, blood was collected from 48 focal chickens and total immunoglobulin Y levels and specific titres to IBV in serum were determined. The results showed that feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract to broiler breeders did not affect egg production, egg quality, antibody responses to vaccination or transfer of antibodies from hen to chick. However, feeding intact algae significantly increased the levels of iodine and decreased the level of selenium in the eggs and resulted in a lower proportion of chicks with maximum quality score. Interestingly, algal feeding, both intact and as an extract, increased the abdominal fat pad in broiler breeders by about 17% without affecting BW. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler breeder diets with algal extract from Saccharina latissima, but not intact algal meal is a promising dietary strategy to increase the abdominal fat pad without causing any adverse effects on nutrient level in eggs or chick quality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123003373Brown algaeChick qualityEgg qualityImmunityLaminarin
spellingShingle E. Ivarsson
H. Wall
M. Boyner
G. Cervin
H. Pavia
E. Wattrang
Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
Animal
Brown algae
Chick quality
Egg quality
Immunity
Laminarin
title Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
title_full Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
title_fullStr Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
title_full_unstemmed Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
title_short Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
title_sort effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
topic Brown algae
Chick quality
Egg quality
Immunity
Laminarin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123003373
work_keys_str_mv AT eivarsson effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings
AT hwall effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings
AT mboyner effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings
AT gcervin effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings
AT hpavia effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings
AT ewattrang effectsofalgalsupplementationinfeedtobroilerbreedersontransferofnutrientsandantibodiestochicksandqualityofhatchlings