Effects of Combined Application of NRTUAs and ABP on Growth and Humoral Immunity of Chicks

[Objectives]The paper was to study the effects of combined application of nonreplicating Toxoplasma uracil auxotrophs(NRTUAs)and Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharide(ABP)on growth and humoral immunity of chicks.[Methods]A total of 120 one-day old female Hyline brown laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups,30 hens for each group.The chicks in group 1 were subcutaneously injected with NRTUAs and fed on the diet containing with ABP;the chicks in group 2 were subcutaneously injected with NRTUAs;the chicks in group 3 were subcutaneously injected with equal volume of PBS,and fed on the diet containing with ABP;the chicks in group 4 were subcutaneously injected with equal volume of PBS.The body weight of chicks in each group was counted at the 21^(st),42^(nd),84^(th)and 112^(th)week.During this period,blood samples were collected from chicks in each group at 0,7,14,21,28 and 35 d post immunization against Newcastle disease(ND),and serum was separated to detect the antibody titer of ND.[Results]The combined application of NRTUAs and ABP had no effect on growth of chicks,but promoted the humoral immune response of chicks,significantly improved the ND antibody level of chicks,and could maintain high levels of antibodies in the body for a long time.[Conclusions]The study lays a theoretical foundation for further developing the clinical application of NRTUAs and ABP.

Effects of “Bioactive” amino acids leucine, glutamate, arginine and tryptophan on feed intake and mRNA expression of relative neuropeptides in broiler chicks

Feed intake control is vital to ensuring optimal nutrition and achieving full potential for growth and development in poultry. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of L-leucine, L-glutamate, L-tryptophan and L-arginine on feed intake and the mRNA expression levels of hypothalamic Neuropeptide involved in feed intake regulation in broiler chicks. Leucine, glutamate, tryptophan or arginine was intra-cerebroventricularly （ICV） administrated to 4d-old broiler chicks respectively and the feed intake were recorded at various time points. Quantitative PCR was performed to determine the hypothalamic mRNA expression levels of Neuropeptide Y （NPY）, agouti related protein （AgRP）, pro-opiomelanocortin （POMC）, melanocortin receptor 4 （MC4R） and corticotrophin releasing factor （CRF）. Our results showed that ICV administration of L-leucine （0.15 or 1.5 μmol） significantly （P〈0.05） increased feed intake up to 2 h post-administration period and elevated both hypothalamic NPY and AgRP mRNA expression levels. In contrast, ICV administration of L-glutamate （1.6 μmol） significantly （P 〈 0.05） decreased feed intake 0.25, 0.5 and 2 h post-injection, and increased hypothalamic CRF and MC4R mRNA expression levels. Meanwhile, both L-tryptophan （10 or 100 μg） and L-arginine （20 or 200 μg） had no significant effect on feed intake. These findings suggested that L-leucine and L-glutamate could act within the hypothalamus to influence food intake, and that both orexigenic and anorexigenic Neuropeptide genes might contribute directly to these effects.

The Influence of Feed Intake and Conditioned Reflex on Exocrine Pancreatic Function in Broiler Chicks

The data of an experimental study of the influence of feeding and the conditional stimulus on digestive function in birds is presented. It is stated that feed consumption is a powerful stimulator of pancreatic secretion in broiler chicks. The secretory response of the pancreas was the highest in the morning when secretion of pancreatic juice was 1.8 times higher, amylase activity 3.2 times, proteases activity 3.3 times, lipase activity 2.1 times higher than before feeding (basal levels). The regulation of pancreatic activity is known to be complex-reflex with conditioned-reflex component being very important since it provides 25% higher juice secretion and 42% - 74% higher enzyme secretion compared to the basal levels during few minutes after the conditional signal.

Influences of Feeding Lactobacillus on Colonization of the Lactobacillus in Chicks′ Digestible Tracts

It was carried out with culture solution of Lactobacillus fed to the newborn chicks to observe the influences on colonization of the Lactobacillus in chicks digestible tracts. The results showed that after the chicks were fed Lactobacillus, the amount of the Lactobacillus in chicks digestible tracts significantly increased (P<001) and the Lactobacillus colonized 36h ahead of schedule

Some Serum Metabolites and Haematological Parameters of Pullet Chicks Fed Cassava Root Products(CRPs)

Blood biochemistry is routinely used in veterinary medicine to evaluate the health status of animals and poultry.The experiment was designed to evaluate serum metabolites and haematological parameters of pullet chicks fed cassava root products(CRPs).Diet 1 contained 100%maize and served as the control diet(CD).Diets 2,3 and 4 contained 50%unpeeled cassava chip(UCC),unpeeled cassava pellet(UCP)and unpeeled cassava grit(UCG),respectively,while diets 5,6 and 7 contained 100%of respective cassava products.There were three replicates of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design.At the seventh week,blood samples were carefully collected from three birds from each replicate for haematological indices and serum metabolites.Results on haematological indices showed that values recorded were not adversely(p<0.05)affected by dietary treatments.Birds fed CD had packed cell volume(PCV),haemoglobin(Hb),red blood cell(RBC),mean corpuscular haemoglobin(MCH)and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration(MCHC)values that were similar(p>0.05)to values recorded by birds fed cassava based diets.The respective values ranged from 18.50%to 24.50%,11.30 g/dL to 12.75 g/dL,2.43×10^6/mm^3 to 3.69×10^6/mm^3,32.96μmg to 50.87μmg and 44.65%to 63.41%.Serum glucose and thiocyanate were significantly(p<0.05)affected by inclusion of CRPs.Serum thiocyanate of birds fed the CD(0.14 mg/dL)was lower(p<0.05)than values recorded for those fed 50%and 100%UCC,UCP and UCG(2.33 and 2.56,2.25 and 2.47,2.19 and 2.38 mg/dL,respectively).Also values of serum glucose of birds fed 100%UCC,UCP and UCG(181.52,179.64 and 173.24 mg/dL,respectively)were higher(p<0.05)than CD.However,serum protein and its fractions were not affected.Conclusively,haematological indices were not adversely affected by dietary treatment,but serum glucose and thiocyanate were affected.

Immunological Changes of Chicks Immunized with March＇s Disease Vaccines and Challenged with Virulent MD Virus

The experiment was conducted to inoculate one-day old chicks with March's disease (MD) trivalent and herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) vaccines separately, and then to challenge them with virulent MD virus (vMDV) at the age of 15 days. and 5, 25, 45 and 75 days after the challenge with vMDV, comparing with the control-challenged chicks without immunization, to detect the immunoprotetive efficacy and dynamic changes of the inductive activity of interleukin-2(IL-2), expression of IL-2 receptor and proliferative function of T cells in thymus and spleen; the number of ANAE+T, AP+T cells and IgG, IgM, IgA antibody-producing cells in Bursa Fabricius, spleen,thymus, cecal tonsil and Harder gland; as the amount of T cells and IgG, IgM, IgA in peripheral blood as well as the content of IgG, IgM and IgA in the tear, trachea washings, bile and intestinal fluids of the experimental chicks. The experimental results firstly demonstrate that the immunorcgulation of IL-2, and IL-2 receptor, the cellualr and humoral immune responses were significantly enhanced in the central and peripheral immune organs; the local mucosal immune function were markedly amplified in the respiratory and digestive tracts of the immunized-challenged,chicks, which were closely correlated with the immunoprotection against MD; the immune response and immunoprotective effect of the trivalent vaccine-immunized chicks were much better than those of HVT vaccine-immunized chicks:

Effects of Macleaya cordata Extracts on Growth Performance and Immune Function of Immunosuppressed Laying Chicks

[Objective] The paper was to study the effects of Macleaya cordata extracts on growth performance and immune function of immunosuppressed laying chicks. [Method] A total of 120 1-day-old laying chicks with the body weight of (38.76±1.12) g were randomly divided into 3 groups with 40 replicates per treatment and 1 chick per replicate according to the principle of consistent body weight and half male and half female,namely control group, cyclophosphamide (CTX) group and M. cordata group. The trial lasted 21 d. The chicks in control group and CTX group were fed with basal diet, and those in M. cordata group were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg M. cordata extract. On the 8^(th), 9^(th), 10^(th) and 17^(th) day of the trial, the chicks in CTX group and M. cordata group were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg/kg BW CTX, and those in control group were intraperitoneally injected with equal dose of normal saline. [Result] (1) Compared with control group, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of chicks in CTX group reduced significantly;the feed gain ratio (F/G) increased significantly;the white blood cell count (WBC) decreased significantly;the alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspertate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the blood increased significant -ly;the total protein (TP) and globulin (GLOB) content in the blood decreased significantly;the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly;and the contents of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the serum decreased significantly. (2)Compared with CTX group, the ADG and ADFI of chicks in M. cordata group increased significantly;the F/G decreased significantly;the WBC, red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematokrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) increased sig -nificantly;the contents of ALT, AST and MDA in the serum decreased significantly;the contents of TP, GLOB, IgG, Ig M, IL -1β, interleukin-6(IL-6) and IL-10 in the serum increased significantly;and the bursa of fabricius index increased significantly. (3) Compared with control group, the ADG and ADFI of chicks in M. cordata group increased significantly, and the contents of HGB and HCT in the blood increased significantly. [Conclusion] CTX injection will reduce the growth performance, antioxidant and immune function of laying chicks. The addition of M. cordata extract could restore the growth performance, immune function and antioxidant function impaired by CTX.

Profile of Maternally Derived Antibody in Broiler Chicks and In-Ovo Vaccination of Chick Embryo against Newcastle Disease

In this study, we determined the suitability of lentogenic LaSota and naturally occurring avirulent I2 vaccine strains of Newcastle disease (ND) virus for efficacious in-ovo vaccination of broiler chickens. A total of 114 embyonated eggs divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) consisting of 25 eggs in each of groups A and B, 20 eggs in each of groups C and D and 24 eggs in group E were used in the study. Eighteen-day-old embryonated eggs in group A were vaccinated in-ovo with ND-I2 vaccine while the same age of embryos in group B were vaccinated with ND-LaSota. Thirteen-day-old embryonated eggs in groups C and D were vaccinated with ND-I2 and ND-LaSota respectively. Group E served as unvaccinated control. There was significant difference (p 2) used for the in-ovo vaccination were pathogenic for chick embryos, however, ND-I2 vaccine was better tolerated when administered to 18-day-old chick embryo.

Principle of Variation of Active Oxygen Radical Metabolism of Chicks Artificial-Infected with vMDV

day-old AA broilers were conducted with violent Marek′s disease virus (vMDV). The activity of SOD, Se-GSHPx, content of LPO in central, peripheral immune organs and main visceral organs of chicks were detected at 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days after infection with vMDV, respectively, and chemilunescence (CL) assay was adopted to detect the ability of active oxygen radical (AOR) generation of lymphocytes from thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricious. The results showed: (1) the activity of total SOD (T-SOD) and Mn-SOD of vMDV-infected chicks decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) compared to control group, whereas that of Cu, Zn-SOD increased slightly (P>0.05); (2) the activity of Se-GSHPx decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); (3) the content of LPO increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); (4) the value of CL of lymphocytes increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01. These showed that vMDV infection resulted in increasing of generation of AOR and decreasing of activity of AOR scavenging enzyme system, leading to deposition of AOR, intensive lipid peroxidation and conversion of cells in chicks. Which gave a further proof that dynamic changes of detected items were consistent with action of vMDV. These proved that AOR resulting from vMDV infection mediated Marek′s disease (MD) and MD oncoma.

Energy and Protein Requirements for 0-to 4-Week-Age Gushi Chicks

In this experiment, 540 male and female chicks of 1-day-age were selected respectively and reared separately. 3×3 factorial experiment was designed. Gushi chicks were fed with nine diets under different metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP). Effects of different diets on the performances and carcass ingredients of 0-to 4-week-age Gushi chicks were studied by rearing, comparative slaughter and metabolism experiments. Based on the results of three experiments, ME intake per kilogram metabolic weight was regarded as dependent variable (Y) ,and its corresponding net energy (NE) deposition per kilogram metabolic weight was regarded as independent variable (X) , respectively. Lineal regressive analysis was made according to the mathematic model: Y=a+bX. Maintenance ME( MEm) and the converted coefficient from net energy for gain( NEg) to ME for gain( MEg) were found out, then ME requirement was divided into MEm+ MEg, which is ME=359.14 W0.75+ 10.47△W; CP intake and corresponding metabolic weight were regarded as dependent variable and independent variable respectively, and then regressive analysis was made. The result was CP=0. 57 + 8. 21 W0.7S. Consequently, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake and metabolic weight were put into the regressive equations, and then ME and CP requirements for 0- to 4-week-age Gushi chicks were obtained, 12.38 MJ kg-1 and 20.13%, respectively, the ratio of CP to ME was 16. 26 g MJ-1.

Effects of 17beta-estradiol on cell migration in male chicks distribution of primordial germ

Aim： To assess whether exogenous estradiol has any effect on migration of primordial germ cells （PGCs） in the chick. Methods： Fertilized eggs were treated with 17beta-estradiol （E2） （80 lag/egg） at stage X （day 0 of incubation）, stages 8-10 （incubation 30 h） and 13-15 （incubation 55 h）. Controls received vehicle （emulsion） only. Changes in PGC number were measured on different days according to developmental stages. Results： In male right gonads, but not in female left gonads, at stages 28-30 （incubation 132 h） significant decreases in the mean number of PGCs aggregating were observed compared with the controls （P 〈 0.05） while the total PGC number in the right and left gonads at each stage did not change （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： The present study provides evidence that E2 has significant effects on the localization of PGCs in male right, but not female left, gonads of chicken embryos at stages 28-30, compared with controls. （Asian J Andro12008 Mar; 10： 243-248）

A multiplatform metabolomic approach to characterize fecal signatures of negative postnatal events in chicks: a pilot study

Background: Negative experiences in early life can induce long-lasting effects on the welfare, health, and performance of farm animals. A delayed placement of chicks in rearing houses has negative effects on their performance, and results in fecal-specific odors detectable by rats. Based on this observation, the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and metabolites from the feces of 12-day-old chickens were screened for early markers of response to negative events using gas-chromatography and liquid-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry(GC-MS, LC-HRMS).Results: The low reproducibility of solid-phase micro-extraction of the VOCs followed by GC-MS was not suitable for marker discovery, in contrast to liquid extraction of metabolites from freeze-dried feces followed by GC-MS or LC-HRMS analysis. Therefore, the fecal metabolome from 12-day-old chicks having experienced a normal or delayed placement were recorded by GC-MS and LC-HRMS in two genotypes from two experiments. From both experiments, 25 and 35 metabolites, respectively explaining 81% and 45% of the difference between delayed and control chickens, were identified by orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis from LC-HRMS and GC-MS profiling.Conclusion: The sets of molecules identified will be useful to better understand the chicks’ response to negative events over time and will contribute to define stress or welfare biomarkers.

Effects of Lactobacillus Microecologics on Production Performance, Immune Function and Intestinal Microflora of Egg Chicks

[Objective]The paper was to study the effects of lactobacillus microecologics on production performance,immune function and intestinal microflora of egg chicks.[Method]Totally 18001-day-old chicks of Hyline brown were randomly divided into three groups,four repeats each group and 150 chicks each repeat.The chicks in control group were supplied with basic diet,and those in experimental groups I and II were supplied with the basic diet added with 100 and 150 g/t microecologics,respectively.[Result]Compared with the control group,the daily gain of egg chicks in experimental group II after 7 weeks was increased by 3.67%(P<0.05),and the feed conversion ratio was significantly reduced by 0.05(P<0.05);the thymus indexes in experimental groups I and II were significantly improved by 4.95%and 5.94%(P<0.05),and the spleen indexes were significantly improved by 3.32% and 4.36% compared with the control group(P<0.05).The index of bursa of fabricius in experimental group II was extremely improved by 9.66%compared with the control group(P<0.01).Meantime,experimental group II extremely improved the number of living lactobacillus in caecum of egg chicks(P<0.01),and extremely reduced the number of Escherichia coli in caecum(P<0.01).[Conclusion]Lactobacillus microecologics are beneficial to the improvement of production performance,immune function and intestinal flora of egg chicks.The optimal addition amount in the feed of chicks is 150 g/t.

Disease resistant and Growth promoting Effect of Nvhuang Fuzheng Oral Liquid on Chicks and Its Enhancement Effect on Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) Vaccine

[Objective] The paper was to investigate the clinical effects of Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid on immunity enhancement,disease resistance and growth promotion of chicks. [Method] In the test,3-day-old Daninghe chicks were divided into normal control group,Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid group and positive control group. Chicks were administrated with drugs for 7 d before immunization. After vaccination,chicks were observed for 4 weeks,to statistically count the incidence state of chicks. Effects of Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid on growth performance,serum immunoglobulin,cytokine and infectious bursal disease virus( IBDV)antibody were studied. [Result] Compared to normal control group,Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid significantly improved the weight of chicks and reduced the feed gain ratio( P < 0. 05); significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality and increased the survival rate of chicks( P < 0. 05); continuously increased IgG,IgM and IL-2 content significantly in the serum of chicks( P < 0. 05); extremely improved IFN-γ content in the serum at 7 d post drug administration( P < 0. 01). After vaccination of IBDV vaccine for 1 and 2 weeks,Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid significantly improved IBDV antibody titer and positive rate of chicks compared to normal control group( P < 0. 05); at 3 weeks post immunization,the antibody positive rate reached 100%. [Conclusion]Nvhuang Fuzheng oral liquid improved immunoglobulin and cytokine levels of chicks,enhanced the immunity and reduced the occurrence of diseases( the morbidity was reduced by 15% and the mortality was reduced by 30%),enhanced disease-resistant ability and promoted the growth of chicks. Meantime,it improved the immune effect of IBDV vaccine.

Effect of Fermented Feed on Intestinal Microbial Community Diversity of Chicks

[Objective]The paper was to study the effects of fermented feed on structure and diversity of intestinal flora in the duodenum,jejunum,ileum and cecum of chicks,and to clarify the mechanism of fermented feed on growth and health of chicks.[Method]The 3601-day-old Hyline brown egg chicks were randomly divided into three treatment groups,six replicates each group,and were fed with basal diet,basal diet+antibiotics and basal diet+fermented feed,respectively.The structure and distribution of intestinal microbial community of egg chicks in each group were determined by Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology.[Result]The Chaol index and Shannon index indicated that the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in unfermented feed group were significantly higher than those in fermented feed group,and the abundance and diversity of flora in the duodenum,jejunum and ileum of each group were significantly higher than those in the cecum.[Conclusion]Feeding fermented feed significantly increases the abundance of Lactobacillus and reduces the number of pathogenic bacteria such as DSV and Bacieroides in the intestinal tract,which also indirectly proves that Lactobacillus inhibits the proliferation of DSV and prevents intestinal diseases.Feeding fermented feed increases the abundance of Firmicutes,significantly decreases the proportion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes,and promotes the growth of chicks.

Long-term trends in the abundance and breeding performance in Adélie penguins:the Argentine Ecosystem Monitoring Program

In this work,we report long-term trends in the abundance and breeding performance of Adélie penguins(Pygoscelis adeliae)nesting in three Antarctic colonies(i.e.,at Martin Point,South Orkneys Islands;Stranger Point/Cabo Funes,South Shetland Islands;and Esperanza/Hope Bay in the Antarctic Peninsula)from 1995/96 to 2022/23.Using yearly count data of breeding groups selected,we observed a decline in the number of breeding pairs and chicks in crèche at all colonies studied.However,the magnitude of change was higher at Stranger Point than that in the remaining colonies.Moreover,the index of breeding success,which was calculated as the ratio of chicks in crèche to breeding pairs,exhibited no apparent trend throughout the study period.However,it displayed greater variability at Martin Point compared to the other two colonies under investigation.Although the number of chicks in crèche of Adélie penguins showed a declining pattern,the average breeding performance was similar to that reported in gentoo penguin colonies,specifically,those undergoing a population increase(even in sympatric colonies facing similar local conditions).Consequently,it is plausible to assume a reduction of the over-winter survival as a likely cause of the declining trend observed,at least in the Stranger Point and Esperanza colonies.However,we cannot rule out local effects during the breeding season affecting the Adélie population of Martin Point.

Effects of aqua agar as water replacement for posthatch chicks during transportation on residual yolk-sac and growth performance of young broiler chickens

Water is one of the most essential nutrients for the maintenance of chicks’ function, and delayed access to feed and water post hatch has been reported to dehydrate chicks. Aqua agar(AA) was formulated to contain more than 95% water and an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of AA as water replacement for posthatch chicks during transportation. During the simulated transport, chicks were held for 24 h with(AA group) or without(NO-AA group) aqua agar in chick boxes. During the holding period, chicks in the AA group lost less body weight, compared with the NO-AA group. However, the weight of residual yolk tended to be lower in the AA-treated birds. There were no significant differences in the weight of gizzard, proventriculus, and liver, nor in the weights and lengths of the duodenum,jejunum and ileum. A higher body weight was also observed in the AA group at 7 days of age. At 21 days of age, weight gain and feed intake were higher(P < 0.05) in the AA group, when compared to that of the NO-AA group. No significant differences were observed in the feed conversion rate(FCR) between the two groups. In conclusion, the data suggests that the use of AA as a water replacement could reduce the negative impact of water deficiency in posthatch period during transportation, resulting in greatly improved growth performance of young broilers at 21 days of age.

Nutritional stimulation by in-ovo feeding modulates cellular proliferation and differentiation in the small intestinal epithelium of chicks

Nutritional stimulation of the developing small intestine of chick embryos can be conducted by in-ovo feeding(IOF).We hypothesized that IOF of glutamine and leucine can enhance small intestinal development by promoting proliferation and differentiation of multipotent small intestinal epithelial cells.Broiler embryos(n=128)were subject to IOF of glutamine(IOF-Gln),leucine(IOF-Leu),NaCl(IOF-NaCl)or no injection(control)at embryonic d 17(E 17).Multipotent,progenitor and differentiated cells were located and quantified in the small intestinal epithelium between E 17 and d 7 after hatch(D 7)in all treatment groups by immunofluorescence of SRY-box transcription factor 9(Sox9)and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),in-situ hybridization of leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor 5(Lgr5)and peptide transporter 1(PepT1)and histochemical goblet cell staining.The effects of IOF treatments at E 19(48 h post-IOF),in comparison to control embryos,were as follows:total cell counts increased by 40%,33%and 19%,and multipotent cell counts increased by 52%,50%and 38%,in IOF-Gln,IOF-Leu and IOF-NaCl embryos,respectively.Only IOF-Gln embryos exhibited a significance,36%increase in progenitor cell counts.All IOF treatments shifted Lgr5+ stem cell localizations to villus bottoms.The differentiated,PepT1+region of the villi was 1.9 and 1.3-fold longer in IOF-Gln and IOF-Leu embryos,respectively,while goblet cell densities decreased by 20%in IOF-Gln embryos.Postehatch,crypt and villi epithelial cell counts were significantly higher IOF-Gln chicks,compared to control chicks(P<0.05).We conclude IOF of glutamine stimulates small intestinal maturation and functionality during the peri-hatch period by promoting multipotent cell proliferation and differentiation,resulting in enhanced compartmentalization of multipotent and differentiated cell niches and expansions of the absorptive surface area.

Hatching egg polyunsaturated fatty acids and the broiler chick

Transgenerational effects of certain nutrients such as essential fatty acids are gaining increased attention in the field of human medicine and animal sciences as a new tool to improve health and animal performance during perinatal life.Omega-3(n-3)and omega-6(n-6)fatty acids are denoted by the position of the first double bond from methyl end of the hydrocarbon chain.Alpha-linolenic acid(18:3 n-3)and linoleic acid(18:2 n-6)are essential n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and cannot be synthesized by the vertebrates including chickens.Alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid are the parent fatty acids of long chain(>20–22C)n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA)such as eicosapentaenoic acid(20:5 n-3,EPA),docosapentaenoic acid(22:5 n-3/or 22:5 n-6,DPA),docosahexaenoic acid(22:6 n-3,DHA)and arachidonic acid(20:4 n-6).As components of cell membrane phospholipids,PUFA serves as precursors of eicosa-noids,act as ligands for membrane receptors and transcription factors that regulate gene expression and are pivotal for normal chick growth and development.Considering the role of egg lipids as the sole source of essential fatty acids to the hatchling,dietary deficiencies or inadequate in ovo supply may have repercussions in tissue PUFA incorpora-tion,lipid metabolism,chick growth and development during pre and early post-hatch period.This review focus on studies showing how maternal dietary n-3 or n-6 fatty acids can lead to remodeling of long chain n-3 and n-6 PUFA in the hatching egg and progeny chick tissue phospholipid molecular species and its impact on chick growth and PUFA metabolism during early life.

Trends in in ovo sexing technologies:insights and interpretation from papers and patents

Numerous researchers and institutions have been developing in ovo sexing technologies to improve animal welfare by identifying male embryos in an early embryonic stage and disposing of them before pain perception.This review gives a complete overview of the technological approaches reported in papers and patents by performing a thorough search using Web of Science and Patstat/Espacenet databases for papers and patents,respectively.Based on a total of 49 papers and 115 patent families reported until May 2023 worldwide,11 technology categories were defined:6 non-optical and 5 optical techniques.Every category was described for its characteristics while assessing its potential for application.Next,the dynamics of the publications of in ovo sexing techniques in both paper and patent fields were described through growth curves,and the interest or actual status was visualized using the number of paper citations and the actual legal status of the patents.When comparing the reported technologies in papers to those in patents,scientific gaps were observed,as some of the patented technologies were not reported in the scientific literature,e.g.,ion mobility and mass spectrometry approaches.Generally,more diverse approaches in all categories were found in patents,although they do require more scientific evidence through papers or industrial adoption to prove their robustness.Moreover,although there is a recent trend for non-invasive techniques,invasive methods like analyzing DNA through PCR or hormones through immunosensing are still being reported(and might continue to be)in papers and patents.It was also observed that none of the technologies complies with all the industry requirements,although 5 companies already entered the market.On the one hand,more research and harmony between consumers,industry,and governments is necessary.On the other hand,close monitoring of the market performance of the currently available techniques will offer valuable insights into the potential and expectations of in ovo sexing techniques in the poultry industry.