Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
06:38
In Ovo Feeding of Commercial Broiler Eggs: An Accurate and Reproducible Method to Affect Muscle Development and Growth
Published on: September 20, 2021
2.8K
Post-photostimulation energy intake accelerated pubertal development in broiler breeder pullets
S H Hadinia1, P R O Carneiro1, C J Fitzsimmons2
1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2P5.
Poultry Science
|April 4, 2020
Summary
Higher metabolizable energy intake (MEI) in broiler breeder pullets accelerated puberty by activating the reproductive axis and increasing lipid deposition. This led to earlier sexual maturity and onset of lay compared to restricted low-energy diets.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Physiology
- Poultry Nutrition
Background:
- Optimizing reproductive performance in broiler breeders is crucial for efficient poultry production.
- Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) is a key nutritional factor influencing growth and reproduction.
- Understanding the impact of MEI on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is essential for managing puberty onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of different metabolizable energy intakes (MEI) on the reproductive system of broiler breeder pullets.
- To investigate the influence of MEI on the expression of key reproductive genes and hormone levels.
- To determine the impact of MEI on sexual maturity and the onset of lay.
Main Methods:
- Ross 308 broiler breeder pullets (n=140) were fed either a low-energy (restricted) or high-energy (unrestricted) diet from 22 to 26 weeks of age.
- Gene expression of GnRH, GnIH, GnRH-R, and GnIH-R in the hypothalamus and pituitary was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR.
- Blood samples were analyzed for LH, FSH, and E2 concentrations via ELISA; carcass composition was also determined.
Main Results:
- Pullets fed a high MEI exhibited significantly higher mRNA levels of GnRH and GnRH-R compared to the low MEI group.
- High MEI significantly increased concentrations of LH, FSH, and E2, and also led to greater carcass lipid deposition (13.9% vs 10.3%).
- The onset of lay was advanced in the high MEI group, with 100% laying by 26 weeks compared to 30% in the low MEI group.
Conclusions:
- Higher metabolizable energy intake accelerates puberty in broiler breeder pullets by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
- Increased MEI promotes reproductive hormone levels and enhances body lipid deposition, contributing to earlier sexual maturity.
- Nutritional management of MEI is a critical strategy for optimizing reproductive development and performance in broiler breeders.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
1.2K
Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
1.2K
00:51Energy Budgets
10.5K
Organisms must balance energy intake with the energy required for growth, maintenance and reproduction. These trade-offs result in a variety of survivorship and reproductive strategies, including semelparity and iteroparity. Semelparous species, like annual plants, have only one reproductive episode in their lifetimes and consequently have short lifespans. Iteroparous species, by contrast, have many reproductive events during their lifetimes but have relatively few offspring. These two...
10.5K