Optimal micronutrient supplementation to improve the productive results of poultry breeders

The addition of vitamins and minerals to breeders' food covering only or slightly above the basic requirements is a common practice in today's poultry production. . This is due to the consideration that this practice entails a cost optimization that can impact positively on the return of investment of these productions. For years, this issue has gained importance since the needs of the breeding animals have a direct impact not only on production results during the phase of breeding stage, but also on the productive results of the chicks. The addition of optimal levels of vitamins has shown a very positive effect in poultry meat production (Castaign et al., 2003) and egg production (Hernandez et al., 2002). The present study compared the productive and livability results of two batches of broiler breeder fed with standard levels or with optimal levels of vitamins and canthaxanthin.

A total of 480 breeding pullets and 48 males, Cobb 500, 24 weeks of age were distributed randomly in 24 boxes (20 pullets + 2 males in each box) at the beginning of the trial. They were fed either a standard feed (control group; 12 boxes) or a feed (OVN group; 12 boxes) with the addition of optimal levels of vitamins (OVN^®, Optimal Vitamin Nutrition: A, E, D₃, 25-OH D₃, K₃, B1, B2, B6, B12, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, C) y canthaxanthin from week 18 through week 60 of age. Daily mortality, the percentage of egg production, and the percentage of broken, anomalous and unhatchable eggs was recorded daily throughout the production cycle (up to 60 weeks of age). Fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability were determined in 3 different periods of the production phase: 30, 42 and 58 weeks of age.

The mortality of breeders reached 14.6 per cent in the control group compared to 10.8% in the OVN group (Chi-2 = 1.5; NS), while the live weight and the weight of the eggs remained very similar in the two groups during the entire trial period (p > 0.05 in both cases). The percentage of eggs laid and the quality of eggs, expressed as a percentage of broken, anomalous, or unhatchable eggs, on the other hand, varied significantly depending on treatment. For the above parameters, OVN hens reached significantly better results during the whole productive cycle (p < 0.001; Table 1).

Table 1. Percentage of eggs laid and broken, anomalous* and unhatchable eggs in the control groups and OVN

In regard to fertility and unhatchability, a trend (no significant differences) was observed, since a larger percentage of chicks born/ hatched eggs was reached in the three studied periods (Table 2). For the entire period, the average fertility gap was + 0.5% between the two groups, in favor of the OVN group.

Table 2. Production results of breeding hens fed diets containing standard (control) levels or optimal vitamin (OVN) levels and canthaxanthin

Altogether, and based on data previously mentioned, the estimated number of chicks born per hen was 121.0 in the control group and 126.1 in the OVN group, resulting in a difference of + 5.1 more chicks/hen in the OVN group versus the control group (see Table 3).

Table 3. Number of chicks per hen for the total period (24-60 weeks of age)

This study confirms the beneficial effect of the use of optimal levels of vitamins and canthaxanthin in breeder feed, even though the specific effect of each micronutrient is difficult to characterize in vivo. In the present test, significant differences were observed for the entire period between the Control groups and the OVN groups (+ canthaxanthin) in favor of the OVN Group (+ canthaxanthin) in regard to livability of breeders, egg-laying percentage and quality of the eggs. A trend toward better hatchability of eggs in favor of the OVN group was also observed.  

Castaing J, Larroudé P, Peyhorgue A, Hamelin C, Maaroufi C. 2003. 5èmes Journées de la Recherche Avicole, Tours, 26-27 mars 261-264.

Hernández JM, Pérez-Vendrell AM, Brufau J. 2002. 11th European Poult. Conf. Bremen (Germany). Archiv für Geflügelkunde 152.