Effect of in ovo inoculation of nutritious solutions on the hatchability and performance of broiler chickens

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of in ovo inoculation of nutritious solutions on the hatchability and the performance of broilers at 21 days of age. It was incubated 2,400 eggs from Cobb broiler breeders at 40 weeks of age on four different dates. On the 17.5 day of incubation, the eggs were inoculated with 0.5 mL with one of the following saline solutions: 0.5%; solutioin of 2.0% glucose + 2.0% sucrose solution; 2.5% glucose + 3.0% sucrose solution, vitamin solution or chelate minerals solution. All solutions were evaluated by comparing them to a control treatment, composed of not inoculated eggs. To determine hatchability, chicks were selected according to sex and distributed in a random block design, in a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement (2 sexes x 6 solutions), with 8 replicates of 12 to 16 birds per experimental unit. At 7 and 21 days of age, it was determined weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. Yields of chest, chest filet and leg were estimated at the end of the period. The inoculation of in ovo solutions reduced the egg hatchability, increasing the number of pecked and not hatched eggs. Weight gain and feed conversion of the birds at 7 days of age were not affected by in ovo inoculation. At 21 days of age, solutions of 2.0% of glucose + 2.0% of sucrose, of vitamins and minerals did not affect performance. However, inoculation of 2.5% of glucose + 3.0% of sucrose provided better feed conversion and increase of 4.07% in weight gain, 5.07% in the weight of chest with bones and 5.47% in the chest filet weight. Inoculation of nutritious solution containing 2.5% of glucose + 3.0% of sucrose provides greater weight gain, better feed conversion, greater yields of chest with bones and of chest filet of birds at 21 days of age.