In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

Summer high temperatures (27–38 °C, more than 7 days) readily induce heat stress in late-laying broiler breeders, which impedes offspring growth and development. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis for improving the offspring development of late-laying broiler breeders during summer. Six...

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Main Authors: Huan Ge, Zhenwu Huang, Jinghai Feng, Minhong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1930
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author Huan Ge
Zhenwu Huang
Jinghai Feng
Minhong Zhang
author_facet Huan Ge
Zhenwu Huang
Jinghai Feng
Minhong Zhang
author_sort Huan Ge
collection DOAJ
description Summer high temperatures (27–38 °C, more than 7 days) readily induce heat stress in late-laying broiler breeders, which impedes offspring growth and development. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis for improving the offspring development of late-laying broiler breeders during summer. Six hundred fertilized eggs from 50-week-old LiFeng broiler breeders were divided into five treatment groups (non-injected, NaCl-injected, 6 mg/egg L-arginine-injected, 3.5 mg/egg L-methionine-injected, 8.4 mg/egg L-leucine-injected), with six replicates per group and 20 eggs per replicate. Embryos were incubated for 21 days and chicks raised for 21 days post-hatch. Methionine injection significantly enhanced hatchability (+5.8%), increased daily chick weight gain (+8.8%), reduced serum urea nitrogen (−53.13%), decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, lowered malondialdehyde content (−47.99%), and suppressed expression of inflammatory and apoptotic pathway genes. The comprehensive effect of methionine was the best among the three amino acids when injected into chicken embryos. Methionine promoted protein synthesis, enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities, and consequently improved chick growth performance.
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spelling doaj-art-714a560ce14446d6bf4537c29a0e4b0e2025-08-20T02:35:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011513193010.3390/ani15131930In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and ApoptosisHuan Ge0Zhenwu Huang1Jinghai Feng2Minhong Zhang3State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaSummer high temperatures (27–38 °C, more than 7 days) readily induce heat stress in late-laying broiler breeders, which impedes offspring growth and development. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis for improving the offspring development of late-laying broiler breeders during summer. Six hundred fertilized eggs from 50-week-old LiFeng broiler breeders were divided into five treatment groups (non-injected, NaCl-injected, 6 mg/egg L-arginine-injected, 3.5 mg/egg L-methionine-injected, 8.4 mg/egg L-leucine-injected), with six replicates per group and 20 eggs per replicate. Embryos were incubated for 21 days and chicks raised for 21 days post-hatch. Methionine injection significantly enhanced hatchability (+5.8%), increased daily chick weight gain (+8.8%), reduced serum urea nitrogen (−53.13%), decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, lowered malondialdehyde content (−47.99%), and suppressed expression of inflammatory and apoptotic pathway genes. The comprehensive effect of methionine was the best among the three amino acids when injected into chicken embryos. Methionine promoted protein synthesis, enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities, and consequently improved chick growth performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1930summerlate laying periodbroiler chickenin ovo feedingmethioninearginine
spellingShingle Huan Ge
Zhenwu Huang
Jinghai Feng
Minhong Zhang
In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
Animals
summer
late laying period
broiler chicken
in ovo feeding
methionine
arginine
title In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
title_full In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
title_fullStr In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
title_full_unstemmed In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
title_short In Ovo Feeding of Arginine, Leucine, and Methionine in Broiler Breeders’ Eggs During Summer: Effects on Hatchability and Chick Oxidation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
title_sort in ovo feeding of arginine leucine and methionine in broiler breeders eggs during summer effects on hatchability and chick oxidation inflammation and apoptosis
topic summer
late laying period
broiler chicken
in ovo feeding
methionine
arginine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1930
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