The effect of L-arginine injection by different doses and sites in fertile eggs on hatchability, productive performance and some physiological parameters of Japanese quail’s post-hatching

Abstract EN

completely random experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of L- arginine injection by different doses and sites in fertile eggs on hatchability of fertile eggs, embryonic mortality, growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemistry in two experiments.

An experimental, on the first day of incubation, ٩٩٩ eggs randomly allocated to nine treatment groups (١١١ eggs /each) and distributed into three replicates (٣٧ eggs/each) were injected with T١: Negative control: Without injection.

T٢: Positive control: injection with ٠.٣ ml of ٠.٩% saline solution (NaCl) in air sac.

T٣: Positive control: injection with ٠.٣ ml of ٠.٩% saline solution in yolk sac.

T٤: Larginine with concentration ١.٠ % (١.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in air sac.

T٥: L- arginine with concentration ١.٠ % (١.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in yolk sac.

T٦: L- arginine with concentration ٢.٠ % (٢.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in air sac.

T٧: L- arginine with concentration ٢.٠ % (٢.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in yolk sac.

T٨: L- arginine with concentration ٤.٠% (٤.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in air sac.

T٩: L- arginine with concentration ٤.٠% (٤.٠ g L- arginine /١٠٠ ml saline solution) in yolk sac.

After hatching, ٥٦٧ unsexed-one-day old Japanese quail chicks from the same of each in ovo injection treatment were used in this experiment up to ٦ weeks of age.

Results obtained showed that in ovo injection by L- arginine by different doses and sites into eggs of the first day of incubation Japanese quail resulted in significant increases in the hatchability of fertility eggs, body weight (at hatching, ٣ and ٧ weeks of age), weight gain during the whole period, feed consumption ( from٠-٣ and ٠-٦ weeks of age), and blood serum insulin-like growth factor-١ (IGF-١), total protein, albumin, globulin , glucose, calcium and phosphorus concentrations, as well as the percentages of the eviscerated carcass, dressing and breast.

Significant decreases were recorded in the late embryonic mortality percentage (٧-pipped), total embryonic mortality (٠- pipping), blood serum total lipid, triglyceride concentrations, and % of abdominal fat.

However, there was no significant difference in feed conversion ratio, percentages of thighs, liver, heart and empty gizzard among treatment groups.

In conclusion, in ovo injection of L- arginine by different doses and sites into eggs on the first day of incubation Japanese quail embryos, particularly at the levels of ٤% L-arginine in air sac resulted in a significant improvement in the productive and physiological performance and the highest net return and best economical efficiency of the quail.

Thus, in ovo injection with L-arginine could be utilized as a device for improving the hatchability rate and productive and physiological performance and the highest net return and best economical efficiency of quail hatched from the egg.