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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
In Ovo Feeding of Commercial Broiler Eggs: An Accurate and Reproducible Method to Affect Muscle Development and Growth
Published on: September 20, 2021
Interactive Effects of Incubation Temperature and In Ovo Feeding on Hatchability, Organ Development, Bone Minerals
Maxwell Ansong Okai1,2, Francis Kruenti2, Zheng Liu1
1Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilisation of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Background:
Optimal incubation temperature and in ovo feeding strategies during incubation are crucial for ideal performance and welfare of chicks.
Objective:
This study investigated the effects of incubation temperature and early in ovo feeding on hatchability, internal organ development, bone mineralisation and blood metabolites in broiler chicks.
Methods:
A total of 1200 eggs from 58-week-old Arbor Acre breeders, averaging 62 ± 1 g, were incubated in separate dual-system automatic incubators (Senjie series DZ 47-53) at specified temperatures and 60% humidity. A total of 400 eggs were randomly assigned to three incubation temperature treatments, with four replicates per treatment, based on predetermined air temperatures of 36.5°C, 37.0°C and 37.5°C, maintained from embryonic day (ED) 1 until ED 18. On ED 10, eggs were candled, and each temperature group was further divided into three subgroups: the first serving as a control, where eggs were perforated but not injected; the second receiving an in ovo injection of glucose solution (5 mg/mL); and the third receiving an in ovo injection of vitamin-D3 solution (25 mg/mL). The supplements were administered 0.2 mL at egg level in the air sac.
Results:
Hatchability showed a clear temperature-dependent response, reaching a maximum of 89.86% in glucose-injected eggs at 37.5°C and decreasing to 48.33% in vitamin-D3 injected eggs at 36.5°C (p < 0. 05). Bone mineral content was influenced by interactions between incubation temperature and feeding, with calcium highest in glucose-fed chicks incubated at 37.0°C, while phosphorus was highest in control eggs incubated at 36.5°C (p < 0.05). By Day 21, chicks fed vitamin-D3 consistently demonstrated lower cholesterol levels, whereas those fed glucose and controls showed higher alkaline phosphatase activity under increased incubation temperatures (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Optimal results were achieved with glucose injection at 37.0°C and 37.5°C, improving hatchability, intestinal development and bone mineralisation, whereas vitamin-D3 supplementation at lower temperatures negatively impacted hatchability and metabolic balance.
