Effects of supplemental vitamin A on reproduction and antioxidative status of aged laying hens, and growth, blood indices and immunity of their offspring

Ibrahim T. El-Ratel; Mariam M. Amara; Malak M. Beshara; Mohammed F. El Basuini; Sara F. Fouda; Khaled H. El-Kholy; Tarek A. Ebeid; Mahmoud Kamal; Sarah I. Othman; Hassan A. Rudayni; Ahmed A. Allam; Mahmoud Moustafa; Guillermo Tellez-Isaias; Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack; Aml Mekawy

Poultry Science (Mar 2024)

Effects of supplemental vitamin A on reproduction and antioxidative status of aged laying hens, and growth, blood indices and immunity of their offspring

Ibrahim T. El-Ratel,
Mariam M. Amara,
Malak M. Beshara,
Mohammed F. El Basuini,
Sara F. Fouda,
Khaled H. El-Kholy,
Tarek A. Ebeid,
Mahmoud Kamal,
Sarah I. Othman,
Hassan A. Rudayni,
Ahmed A. Allam,
Mahmoud Moustafa,
Guillermo Tellez-Isaias,
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack,
Aml Mekawy

Affiliations

Ibrahim T. El-Ratel: Department of Animal, Poultry and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta 34517, Egypt
Mariam M. Amara: Department of Animal, Poultry and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta 34517, Egypt
Malak M. Beshara: Agricultural Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Mohammed F. El Basuini: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt; Faculty of Desert Agriculture, King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt
Sara F. Fouda: Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Khaled H. El-Kholy: Department of Animal, Poultry and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta 34517, Egypt
Tarek A. Ebeid: Department of Animal Production and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Mahmoud Kamal: Agricultural Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
Sarah I. Othman: Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Hassan A. Rudayni: Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed A. Allam: Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-suef University, Beni-suef 65211 Egypt
Mahmoud Moustafa: Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Guillermo Tellez-Isaias: Department of Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack: Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; Corresponding author:
Aml Mekawy: Department of Animal, Poultry and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta 34517, Egypt

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 103, no. 3
p. 103453

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impacts of vitamin A (VA) supplementation in feed at levels of 0 (control), 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 IU VA/kg diet on the reproductive efficiency and antioxidative properties of aged Sinai laying hens at 52 wk of age (n = 300 females and 30 males) in 6 replicates (10 females + 1 male/replicate). As well as blood biochemical indicators, carcass characteristics, growth performance, immunity, and the antioxidative status of their chicks. Results showed that diets supplemented with 2,000 or 6,000 IU/kg of VA increased fertility rate and decreased early embryonic mortality (P < 0.05). Increasing VA from 4,000 to 6,000 IU/kg significantly boosted hatchability rates. All VA levels significantly enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and late embryonic mortality. In the shell gland, dietary supplementation of 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA enhanced actions of GPx actions, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In hatched chicks, all VA levels boosted (P < 0.05) hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and serum concentration of total proteins and IgA while decreasing eosinophils percentage and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST) concentration. Dietary VA supplementations from 4,000 to 8,000 IU/kg improved lymphocytes, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), SOD, and IgM, while decreasing heterophils, heterophils/lymphocytes ratio, and creatinine in hatched chicks. Serum triglyceride concentration was reduced by adding 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA, while globulin and high-density lipoprotein concentrations were heightened only by 8,000 IU/kg of VA. It could be concluded that the dietary supplementation of VA (6,000 IU/kg) improved reproductive efficiency and antioxidative status in the liver and the shell gland of aged laying hens and improved hemato-biochemicals parameters, antioxidative status, and immunity of their offspring.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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