Effect of the Maxichick (25-hydroxicholecalciferol and canthaxanthin) supplement on the productive performance of lohmann brown breeders and the quality of one-day-old pullets

Introduction

In modern breeder operations, subfertility problems related to both male and female birds are frequently observed. To maximize the fertility of the egg and the hatchability of the embryo during the phase of reproduction, it is essential that the breeding stock be in optimal nutritional status so that the nutrients reach the embryo in the most efficient way possible.

Recent studies in breeding hens of chickens and turkeys have shown that high concentrations of nutrients, such as in canthaxanthin and 25-OH-D3 in the embryo, supplied through the diet of the breeding birds, are related to an improvement of fertility and lower embryonic mortality during the first phase of development of the embryo (Rosa et al., 2010; Soto-Salanova et al., 2011).

The objective of this test was to evaluate the effect of the use of MaxiChick ^TM in the diet of Lohmann breeding on the number and quality of the pullets produced.

Materials & Methods

23,000 breeding hens and 2,300 Lohmann Brown males, housed in 2 buildings, were used.

All the birds were fed with the same diet from the 17th to the 68th week of life; the only difference was that birds from one of the 2 treatments received an additional supplement of 6 mg of canthaxanthin and 69 mcg of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol per kg of feed.

The live weight of the breeding hens was controlled weekly, as well as the weight of the eggs, the number of fertile eggs and the number of eggs to be hatched. Every two weeks, we evaluated the results of hatching in 30 eggs per building, as well as the number of fertile eggs after 48 hours of hatching. The viability of the male was also determined at the end of the production cycle.

Every 6 weeks 30 1-day-old chicks were slaughtered in order to assess the weight of the chicks, as well as the weight of the yolk sac, liver and heart. Previously, a subjective evaluation of the quality of the 1 day old chicks was made.

Results and Discussion

Even though all breeders were the same age, due to different housing conditions, breeders allocated to the MaxiChick ^TM flock were entering into production later than their control counterparts. This would explain why the numbers of pullets per breeder, from 25 to 68 weeks of age in the MaxiChick treatment was only + 0.5% vs control (i.e., 107.7 vs 108.2).

The effect of the treatment became much more evident during the period from 40 to 68 weeks of age (+ 1.6% pullets: 57.4% vs. 56.5%), and even in the 50-68 week period (3.3%: 37.4% vs. 36.2%).

Maxichick^TM improved male breeder viability by 6.9% (77 vs. 72%) at the end of the production cycle, taking into account mortality and breeders sorted out due to low performance.

Table 1. Production results of Lohmann Brown breeders fed with a Control diet or with MaxiChick ^TM from week 25 to 68 of age

Parameters	Control	Maxichick	% Improvement MaxiChick
Mortality males %, 25-68 weeks	77	72	6.9
Hatchability pullets %, 25-68 weeks	39.6	39.8	0.5
No.pullets/hen 25-68 weeks	107.7	108.2	0.5
Hatchability pullets %, 40-68 weeks	38.7	39.5	2.1
No. pullets/hen 40-68 weeks	56.5	57.4	1.6
Hatchability %, 50-68 weeks	37.8	38.7	2.4
No. pullets/hen 50-68 weeks	36.2	37.4	3.3

Regarding the quality parameters of 1-day old females evaluated, all quality parameters improved in breeders receiving the MaxiChick^TM treatment compared to the control treatment: Chick weight (+2%), liver weight (+6.3%), yolk sac weight (+3.7%), and heart weight (+11.1%).

Table 2. Quality results of Lohmann Brown breeders fed with a Control diet or with MaxiChick ^TM from week 25 to 68 of age

Parameters	Control	Maxichick	% Improvement MaxiChick
Weight of pullet (g)	36.9	37.7	2.2
Weight of liver (g)	0.95	1.01	6.3
Weight of yolk sac (g)	3.76	3.90	3.7
Weight of heart (g)	0.27	0.30	11.1

In addition to this, the excellent hatchability results achieved with the MaxiChick^TM treatment in week 69 of life (more than 36%), according to the genetic line used, would have made it possible to extend the commercial production cycle for at least two more weeks. For the farmer, this translated into high profit, in line with new market trends published by various avian genetics companies.

Conclusions

The incorporation of MaxiChick^TM in the feed of light breeders (both females and males) from week 17 on of life and throughout the entire production cycle improved the number and quality of pullets per housed bird.

Bibliography

Rosa AP, Scher A, Duarte V, Boemo L, Vieira TNN, Ferreira JAG, Sorbara JOB. 2010. Supplementation of canthaxanthin to broiler breeders diet on broiler chick hatchery parameters and egg yolk tbars. Proc. International Poultry Scientific Forum, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Soto-Salanova, C Hamelin, S Brière, G Lévêque, JM Hernandez.^.2011. Effect of MaxiChick^TM (25-Hydroxy-cholecalciferol and Canthaxanthin) Supplementation on Turkey Breeder Performance and on the Quality of the Day-Old-Poult. 2011 International Poultry Scientific Forum. 24-25 January 2011, Atlanta GA, USA.