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This study was proposed to highlight the impact of in-ovo injection with Spirulina platensis (SP) solutions in alleviating the negative effect of thermal manipulation during incubation. Also, estimate the influence of this treatment on embryonic development, hatching traits, physiological performance and the expression of gene HSP70. A total of 750 hatching eggs from a 45- wk-old of Sliver Sabahia chickens strain were numbered and weighed (51.00 ± 0.6 g). All the eggs incubated at 37.5°C (99.5 F°) and 55% relative humidity (RH) from 1 d to 11 d of incubation, then were subjected to daily thermal manipulation at 39.5°C (103.1 F°) and RH (60%) for four hours from 12th to 18th day of incubation. At 14th day of incubation, 660 fertilized eggs with evidence of living embryos were randomly assigned to four groups of 165 eggs each (3 replicates of 55 eggs each). The 1stgroup: Eggs without injection, served as (control group), The 2nd group: Eggs injected with saline solution, served as sham control (1 ml saline solution /egg), The 3rd group: Eggs injected with 0.2 mg SP /egg, the 4th group: Eggs injected with 0.4 mg SP /egg. Results conducted that Injecting eggs with SP at different concentrations (0.2 or 0.4 mg/egg) decreased egg weight loss (%), yolk sac (%), embryonic mortality (P ≤ 0.01), pipped eggs (%) and embryonic malposition (P ≤ 0.01) compared to control groups. While, significantly (P ≤ 0.01) improved embryonic development, hatchability percentage, chick weight and quality, most of blood parameters and the expression of gene HSP70 as compared to control groups. The best results were obtained by in ovo feeding of SP at 0.4 mg /egg. In conclusion, In ovo feeding Spirulina platensis solution with 0.4 mg/egg during thermal manipulation created new hormonal, immune systems and increasing levels of HSP70 in the embryos with more ability to withstand and challenge the temperature increase without any deleterious effect, this was reflected in improvement of hatching traits and chick quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary licorice supplementation on productive and reproductive performance with physiological response of Inshas local chicken strain in summer months. A total of one hundred and ninety two laying hens of Inshas local strain at 36 weeks of age were housed in floor pens and randomly distributed into four treatment groups. Each treatment consisted of 48 females in three replicates, with 16 hens per replicate. Birds in control group were fed on a basal diet without any additives, while, other treatments were fed basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0 % and 1.5 % licorice powder, respectively. The experiment was conducted under summer condition in Egypt and commenced eight weeks through July and August months. According to the results, supplementation the diets of laying hens with licorice powder significantly increased productive performance (egg production, egg weight and egg mass). Also, feed conversion ratio was improved for all treatments compared to control group, while there were no significant differences with regard to feed consumption. In addition, all studied concentrations of licorice powder significantly improved percentages of fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs compared to control. Besides, concentration of 1 and 1.5% licorice powder significantly enhanced hatched chick weight compared to those for control group. Moreover, some egg quality traits such as yolk index, shell thickness and Haugh unit had been significantly improved with all concentrations of licorice powder supplementation, while yolk colour had been improved with 1.0 % and 1.5 % licorice powder only. Values of RBC's, WBC's, Hb, globulin, total antioxidant capacity and HDL were significantly increased by supplementing the diet with all experimental concentrations of licorice powder compared with those for control. Moreover, values of packed cell volume and plasma calcium represented the same significant increase response of licorice except that with 0.5%, while, H/L ratio, total lipids, cholesterol and LDL were significantly decreased due to all studied licorice concentrations compared to control. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of laying hens in summer season with concentrations of 1.0 or 1.5 % licorice powder could be a good tool for maximizing productivity and reproductivity coincided with improving blood parameters and lipid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 400 females and 400 males of Mandarah strain at 6 weeks old were transferred to an environmentally controlled light proof house. The controlled house are divided inside into four separate partition. They were distributed to the partitions according to the photoperiod regimen, since female chicks were placed in the first and third partition, while the males were placed in the second and fourth partition (200 chicks / partition with two sources of iodine (organic, inorganic ) inside each source two levels (0 .5, 2 ) with 5 replicate for each treatment with 10 chicks in each replicate). Chicks in the first and second partition exposed to Step-up photoperiod (SUP):The photoperiod was increased gradually from 10 h/d at 8 weeks by half an hour each wk to reach 16-h/d at 20 wk of age. While, the chicks in the third and fourth partition exposed to Constant step-up photoperiod (CSUP): The photoperiod was kept constant at 12-h/d at 8 weeks of age until 16 wk of age and increased gradually by an hour each wk to reach 16-h/d at 20 wk of age . Chicks in each lighting regimen are divided equally into four groups ( 50 birds with 5 replicate) to receive one of the following dietary experiment : basal diet supplemented with 0 .5 (T1), 2 (T2) mg inorganic iodine (Potassium iodide) / Kg diet, 0 .5 (T3), 2 (T4) mg organic iodine (I-enriched yeast) / Kg diet. Results showed that SUP regimen (Lr1) increased (P≤0.05) egg weight, eggshell thickness, haugh units, iodine content in egg yolk, semen quality, fertility, hatchability (%), chick quality traits, corticosterone and testosterone hormones compared with CSUP (Lr2). Also, organic iodine enhanced (P≤0.05) egg weight, eggshell thickness, haugh units, iodine content in egg yolk, semen quality, fertility, hatchability (%), chick quality traits, T3,T3/T4 ratio, corticosterone and testosterone hormones compared with inorganic iodine. Moreover, 2mg iodine/kg diet increased (P≤0.05) iodine content in egg yolk, thyroid hormones and decreased concentration of corticosterone hormone. In conclusion, providing SUP regimens for closed houses from 8-20 weeks birds age with 2mg organic iodine/kg diet could increased egg quality traits, the iodine content of yolk eggs, semen quality, chick quality traits, thyroid, corticosterone and testosterone hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Poultry Science Journal is the property of Egyptian Poultry Science Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of the present experiment was to examine the effect of lighting regimens, iodine sources and levels and their interactions on productive performance, hatching traits, some biochemical blood parameters and thyroid hormones of Mandarah chickens. A total of 400 Mandarah chicks at 8 weeks of age were housed in closed system house and divided randomly into two equal groups (200 chicks / group). Chicks of the first group were exposed to Step-Up Photoperiod (SUP): The photoperiod was increased gradually from 10 h/d at 8 wks of age by half an hour each wk to reach 16 h/d at 20 wk of age (Lr1), Chicks of the second group were exposed to Constant–Step Up Photoperiod (C- SUP): The photoperiod was kept constant at 12 h/d at 8 weeks of age until 16 wk of age and increased gradually by an hour each wk to reach 16 h/d at 20 wk of age (Lr2). The chicks within each lighting regimen were divided equally into four dietary supplementations groups (5 replicates of 10 birds each) as follows: basal diet supplemented with 0 .5 mg Potassium iodide (control, T1), 2 mg Potassium iodide (T2), 0 .5 mg Iodide-enriched yeast (T3) and 2 mg Iodide-enriched yeast (T4) / Kg diet. The results during the laying period up to 36 wk have shown that exposing Mandarah chickens to Lr1 regimen significantly improved egg weight, egg production (%) , egg mass , feed conversion ratio, fertility (%), hatchability (%),body weight at hatch, yolk sac and fabricious gland (%) compared to Lr2 regimen. Moreover, plasma IgM, IgG, TAC, HDL, HDL/LDL ratio and T4 significantly increased for Lr1 compared with Lr2. Feeding Mandarah chickens on 2mg organic iodine/kg diet significantly improved the laying performance , feed conversion ratio, plasma IgM, HDL, HDL/LDL, T3/T4, L%, H%, H/L ratio compared with inorganic iodine either o.5 or 2 mg /kg diet. Also, the interaction of Lr1- organic iodine-2 represented highest (p<0.05) values of egg production%,egg mass,plasma IgM, HDL,HDL/LDL,T3/T4 ratio and L (%), Besides improvement of feed conversion compared with other interactions. In conclusion, it is possible to use the SUP regimen combined with feeding on 2 mg organic iodine /kg diet in laying management from 8-36 weeks of age to improve productive and reproductive performance, hatching traits, hatched chicks body weight and immunity system of Mandarah chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Poultry Science Journal is the property of Egyptian Poultry Science Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation with carotenoids- enriched Spirulina platensis algae (SA), flock age on egg weight loss% ,embryonic weight and mortalities %, hatching traits and blood constituent of Bandarah chicks. One hundred and thirty five females with fifteen males from Bandarah chicken strain at 30-week of age (YA) besides the same numbers at 56- week of age (OA) were housed in floor pens. Five experimental bird groups for each age were fed as follows : basal diet without supplementation of SA (T1) , basal diets supplemented with 40 mg (T2), 80 mg (T3), 120 mg (T4) , 160 mg (T5) SA / Kg diet. The obtained results showed that eggs of elder flock significantly lost greater percentage of weight compared to the younger one. Elder flock age had greater (p≤0.05) embryonic mortality percentage compared with those for younger one and supplementation the diet with SA reduced embryonic mortality. Supplementation the diets with 40 mg for younger flock or 160 mg SA/Kg diet for elder flock , represented significant improvement of macroscopic fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs and hatched chick body weight. Lowest concentrations(p≤0.05) of b-carotene and Zeaxanthin were detected in the liver of control chicks compared to those for all other groups. The elder flock represented significantly higher Zeaxanthin carotenoid concentration in the chick liver compared to those for younger one. Irrespective to flock age, baby chicks of T2 and T5 groups represented the highest significant values of total antioxidants and lowest LDL compared with the others. Regarding flock age, chicks produced from elder flock had higher significant values of cholesterol, LDL and malondialdhide, while chicks produced from younger one had higher values (p≤0.05) of total antioxidants and HDL. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of parental younger flock age with 40 mg SA/Kg diet and 160 mg SA/Kg diet for the elder one could be a good tool for realizing the best improvement results of fertility, hatchability and hatched chick body weight, besides highest concentration of total antioxidants in the blood of hatched chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation with carotenoids-enriched Spirulina platensis algae (SA), flock age on carotenoids concentration in egg yolk, productive performance, egg quality and blood parameters of Bandarah chickens. One hundred and thirty five females with fifteen males from Bandarah chicken strain at 30weeks of age besides the same number from the same chicken strain at 56 weeks of age were housed in floor pens. The birds were weighed and randomly divided into five groups representing the dietary supplementations and commenced four months of laying production. The five experimental bird groups for each age were fed as follow: basal diet without supplementation of SA (control) , basal diet supplemented with 40 mg (group 2), 80 mg (group 3), 120 mg (group 4), 160 mg (group 5) SA/Kg diet. The results showed that there was a linear relationship between dietary SA concentration and carotenoids concentration in egg yolk. Supplementation the diet with 40 mg SA/Kg diet represented highest (P≤0.05) record of egg weight, egg mass and egg production compared to those for other treatment groups regardless of flock age. Moreover, the best significant improvement of feed conversion rate was recorded for group of chickens fed T2 and T5 treatments. The highest values for egg mass and egg production % were observed for interactions of T2 ˟ young age and T5 ˟ old age. Elder flock age represented significant increase for egg weight, egg shell index and yolk weight percentage compared to those for younger one. Also, supplementing the diets with 40 mg SA /Kg diet (T2) and 160 mg SA/Kg diet (T5) reduced(P≤0.05) cholesterol and malonadialdhide. In conclusion, Spirulina platensis algae could be used safety in layer diets at levels of 40mg/kg diet for young flocks and 160 mg/kg diet for old ones for realizing the best productive performance and improving the yolk color and some blood parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]