Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In ovo feeding (IOF) is a new nutritional technique which involves putting nutrients straight into the growing embryo while it is being incubated. This method has drawn a lot of interest since it can improve hatchability, improve post-hatch performance, and enhance embryonic development in chicken. The main advantages, workings, and difficulties of IOF are examined in this review. In order to promote immunological response, intestinal health, and physiological growth, nutrients such carbs, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and plant extracts are frequently given. IOF stimulates the chick's innate and adaptive immunological responses, improves intestinal architecture, encourages early microbial colonization, and increases energy availability during late incubation. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that IOF increases feed conversion and growth rates while lowering mortality and early-life stress. In order to further promote embryonic development, recent developments have included the use of bioactives like curcumin, garlic, and ginger in addition to hormone and growth factor supplements like thyroxine and IGF-1. But the method is not without its drawbacks. Outcome variability brought on by variations in nutrition type, dosage, timing, and injection technique continues to be a major obstacle. Widespread commercial usage is further restricted by the risk of contamination and the absence of established processes. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, IOF has the potential to completely transform the production of poultry, especially in systems devoid of antibiotics. These restrictions are being addressed by developments in biotechnology and automated delivery methods, which establish IOF as a game-changing instrument for effective and sustainable chicken production.
Authors: Rawad Sweidan, Hana Zakaria
Institutions: National Agricultural Research Center, University of Jordan
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: University of Jordan
OpenAlex ID: W4415912262
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