Improvement of growth performance and digestive function via amniotic injection of N-Acetylglutamate in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: N-Acetylglutamate (NAG), the first committed substrate for de novo arginine synthesis, plays an important role in intestinal development. The present study aimed to determine the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of NAG (1.5 mg/egg) at 17.5 days of incubation (DOI) via amnion on hatching performance, early intestinal histomorphometry, jejunal barrier and digestive function, and growth performance of broiler chickens between 1 and 14 days of age (d).

RESULTS: Amniotic injection of NAG had no significant effect on hatching characteristics compared with the non-injected control group (NC group). Birds in NAG solution-injected group (NAG group) exhibited lower average daily feed intake and better feed efficiency during 1 to 14 d. Compared to NC group, NAG group decreased crypt depth (CD) in ileum and increased villus height (VH) / CD in jejunum at 7 d, and decreased CD in duodenum and increased VH in jejunum at 14 d significantly. However, the effects of in ovo supplementation with NAG on the density of goblet cells, gene expression of mucin 2 and alkaline phosphatase were not significant. Chicks in NAG group had a higher mRNA expression level of trypsin and maltase in jejunum at 7 d than NC group significantly, but not at 14 d.

CONCLUSION: Amniotic injection of NAG (1.5 mg/egg) at 17.5 DOI could improve early growth performance of broilers during 1 to 14 d posthatch by accelerating the development of intestine and enhancing jejunal digestive function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.