Ren Yuying, Muyyarikkandy Muhammed Shafeekh, Gao Mairui, Lu Si, Reddyvari Ragini, Mathew Elza, Kuttappan Deepa, Kosuri Praveen, Amalaradjou Mary Anne
Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Poult Sci. 2025 Jun 6;104(9):105395. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105395.
Current broiler production strategies largely emphasize post-hatch interventions such as feed additives and optimized housing, with limited focus on the embryonic phase. However, embryonic development and the immediate post-hatch period account for nearly half of the productive lifespan of modern broilers and play a critical role in determining market performance. This study evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in enhancing embryonic development and post-hatch performance in broiler chickens. Hatching eggs (Ross 308) were sprayed with phosphate-buffered saline (Control) or probiotics [Lactobacillus paracasei DUP 13076 (LP) and L. rhamnosus NRRL B 442 (LR)] prior to and during incubation. Embryos were sampled at defined intervals for growth and morphometric assessments. On day 18, eggs were transferred to the hatcher, and post-hatch chicks were raised for six weeks on feed with or without probiotic supplementation (∼9 log CFU/g feed). Birds were sacrificed during the grow-out phase for morphometric evaluation. Probiotic treatment significantly enhanced embryonic development as evidenced by increased relative embryo weight, crown-rump length, hatchability, and hatchling weight (p ≤ 0.05). Continued LP and LR supplementation post-hatch led to improvements in body weight gain (8-15 %), carcass weight (2.7-3.8 %), relative breast weight (4.3-4.9 %), and relative leg weight (4-4.8 %) compared to controls, without negatively affecting meat quality. Moreover, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reduced by 3-4.9 %, with concurrent improvements in performance efficiency and survivability. These findings demonstrate that early and sustained probiotic supplementation supports robust growth and improved performance in broiler chickens. Integrating probiotics across both embryonic and post-hatch stages offers a promising strategy to enhance poultry production efficiency and bird health under commercial conditions.
当前的肉鸡生产策略在很大程度上强调孵化后的干预措施，如饲料添加剂和优化养殖环境，而对胚胎期的关注有限。然而，胚胎发育和孵化后的早期阶段占现代肉鸡生产寿命的近一半，并且在决定市场表现方面起着关键作用。本研究评估了益生菌在促进肉鸡胚胎发育和孵化后性能方面的功效。在孵化前和孵化期间，用磷酸盐缓冲盐水（对照）或益生菌[副干酪乳杆菌DUP 13076（LP）和鼠李糖乳杆菌NRRL B 442（LR）]对孵化蛋（罗斯308）进行喷雾处理。在规定的时间间隔对胚胎进行采样，以进行生长和形态测量评估。在第18天，将蛋转移到孵化箱中，孵化后的雏鸡在添加或不添加益生菌（约9 log CFU/g饲料）的饲料上饲养六周。在生长阶段对鸡进行宰杀，以进行形态测量评估。益生菌处理显著促进了胚胎发育，表现为相对胚胎重量、顶臀长度、孵化率和雏鸡体重增加（p≤0.05）。与对照组相比，孵化后持续补充LP和LR可使体重增加（8 - 15%）、胴体重量（2.7 - 3.8%）、相对胸肌重量（4.3 - 4.9%）和相对腿重量（4 - 4.8%）得到改善，且对肉质无负面影响。此外，饲料转化率（FCR）降低了3 - 4.9%，同时性能效率和存活率得到提高。这些发现表明，早期和持续补充益生菌有助于肉鸡的强健生长和性能改善。在胚胎期和孵化后阶段都整合益生菌，为在商业条件下提高家禽生产效率和鸡的健康状况提供了一个有前景的策略。
