The dietary supplementation of canthaxanthin in combination with 25OHD3 results in reproductive, performance, and progeny quality gains in broiler breeders.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of canthaxanthin and cholecalciferol (25OHD3) to broiler breeders and their progenies on their performance. Eighty 25-wk-old Cobb 500 broiler breeders were distributed according to a completely randomized design in 2 experimental treatments, with 10 replicates of 4 birds each. The treatments consisted of the supplementation or not of a corn-soybean meal diet with canthaxanthin + 25OHD3 to broiler breeders fed from 25 to 62 wk of age. Egg production, fertility, hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, embryonic mortality, and egg specific gravity were evaluated. Breeders were inseminated at 35, 45, and 62 wk of age, the eggs were incubated, and the performance of the progenies was evaluated. From the progeny of each breeder age, 300 male chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (chicks from breeders supplemented or not with canthaxanthin + 25OHD3 and chicks supplemented or not with canthaxanthin + 25OHD3), totaling 4 treatments with 5 replicates of 15 birds each. Canthaxanthin + 25OHD3 were supplied to the chicks until 21 D of age. The combination of canthaxanthin and 25OHD3, containing 69 mg of 25OHD3 and 6 g of canthaxanthin, was supplemented at 1 kg/t of feed. Breeders supplemented with canthaxanthin + 25OHD3 showed higher egg production, total hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, and lower early embryo mortality compared with those fed the control diet. Broilers from breeders fed canthaxanthin + 25OHD3 and supplemented with this additive up to 21 D of age presented a better feed conversion ratio and higher carcass and breast yields than those derived from nonsupplemented breeders.

Different dietary trace mineral sources for broiler breeders and their progenies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different trace mineral supplementation sources in the diet of broiler breeders on their performance and on their progenies. In total, 128 Cobb 500 broiler breeders were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in 2 experimental treatments. The control group was fed a diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals (ITM), while the other group was fed a diet supplemented with reduced levels of trace minerals in the organic form. Eggs were collected when breeders were 35, 47, and 53 wk old. Their progeny (450 hatchlings) were divided according to trace mineral supplementation source from the maternal diet, creating 2 treatments with 16 replicates of 15 birds each. Organic trace mineral (OTM) supplementation improved broiler breeder performance, as shown by higher egg production and better eggshell quality of OTM-fed hens compared with those fed ITM. Egg fertility and hatchability were not influenced by the treatments. As to progeny performance, higher weight gain, and consequently, better feed conversion ratio, were obtained in the 41-day-old progenies of OTM-fed breeders, independently of hen age. Maternal diet trace mineral source did not affect broiler carcass, breast meat, or leg yields. The results of the present study show that supplementing broiler breeder diets with organic trace mineral sources enhances the performance of breeders and their progenies.