Effects of the in ovo and dietary supplementation of L-ascorbic acid on the growth performance, inflammatory response, and eye L-ascorbic acid concentrations in Ross 708 broiler chickens

Authors: MOUSSTAAID, A - Mississippi State University; FATEMI, S - Mississippi State University; Collins Elliott, Katie; LEVY, A - Dsm; MILLER, W - Advanced Animal Eye Care; GERARD, P - Clemson University; ALQHTANI, A - King Saud University; PEEBLES, E - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2022
Publication Date: 9/27/2022
Citation: Mousstaaid, A., Fatemi, S.A., Collins Elliott, K.E., Levy, A.W., Miller, W.W., Gerard, P.D., Alqhtani, A.H., Peebles, E.D. 2022. Effects of the in ovo and dietary supplementation of L-ascorbic acid on the growth performance, inflammatory response, and eye L-ascorbic acid concentrations in Ross 708 broiler chickens. Animals. 12(19), 2573. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192573.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192573

Interpretive Summary: L-ascorbic acid (L-AA), known as vitamin C, is involved in several metabolic processes, including bone formation, antioxidant activity, and inflammatory response. It is well documented that the antioxidant capacity and immunity of broilers are enhanced in response to the dietary or in ovo administration of L-AA. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects the in ovo or dietary administration of L-AA on the post hatch performance, plasma nitric oxide, and eye L-AA concentrations of Ross 708 broilers. At 17 days of incubation, the following treatments were administered: non-injected or sham-injected (100 µL of saline) controls, or the injection of either 12 or 25 mg of L-AA suspended in 100 µL of saline. In addition, chicks were fed a commercial diet with or without 200 mg/kg of supplemental L-AA. The results of the current study revealed that the eye concentrations of L-AA were higher in males in comparison to females. Additionally, 12 mg of L-AA decreased plasma nitric oxide levels in 14-day-old male broilers in comparison to the other in ovo injection treatment groups. Compared to a commercial diet, dietary L-AA lowered feed conversion ratio during the second week of post hatch growth. In conclusion, the in ovo administration of L-AA was more effective in reducing inflammatory response, whereas the dietary source had a greater impact on the live performance of broilers. Further research is needed to confirm these effects throughout the entire growing phase.

Technical Abstract: Effects of the dietary and in ovo administration of L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) on the performance, plasma nitric oxide, and eye L-AA concentrations of Ross 708 broilers were investigated. At 17 days of incubation, live embryonated hatching eggs were randomly assigned to a non-injected or sham-injected (100 µL of saline) control group, or a group injected with either 12 or 25 mg of L-AA suspended in 100 µL of saline. Chicks received a commercial diet with or without 200 mg/kg of supplemental L-AA and were randomly assigned to each of 6 replicate floor pens in each in ovo injection-dietary treatment combination. Weekly live performance variables through 14 days of post hatch age (doa) and the eye weights in both sexes at 0, 7, and 14 doa were determined. At 0 and 14 doa, plasma nitric oxide levels and eye L-AA concentrations of one bird of each sex in each pen were determined. Dietary supplemental L-AA decreased feed intake and growth between 0 and 7 doa, but from 8 to 14 doa; all birds fed supplemental L-AA had a lower feed conversion ratio. At 14 doa, male chicks had higher eye L-AA concentrations and lower plasma nitric oxide levels when treated in ovo with 12 mg of L-AA. In conclusion, dietary L-AA may be used to improve feed conversion in the second week of broiler post hatch growth. However, the in ovo administration of 12 mg of L-AA can increase male eye L-AA concentrations and is effective in reducing their general inflammatory response.