Effects of feeding ISA brown and Shaver white layer breeders with sources of n-3 fatty acids on hatching egg profiles, apparent embryonic uptake of egg components, and body composition of day-old chicks

Abstract

Effects of feeding ISA brown and Shaver white breeders sources of n-3 fatty acids (FA) on egg components, apparent embryonic uptake (AEU) of egg components, and hatching body composition were examined. A total of 240 females and 30 males per each strain were fed either: (1) control (CON); (2) CON + 1% of dried microalgae (DMA), as a source of docosahexaenoic acid; or (3) CON + 2.60% of dry extruded product consisting of full-fat flaxseed (FFF), as a source of α-linolenic acid for 30 d. Eggs were incubated and the residual yolks (RY) sampled at hatch for AEU of dry matter (DM), minerals, and organic matter (OM). Feeding n-3 FA sources reduced the AEU of OM and minerals resulting in a higher ratio of RY to body weight (P = 0.002). Feeding FFF increased body fat and decreased lean in Shaver white hatchlings compared with CON (P < 0.05). The body mineral was reduced by feeding DMA compared with other treatments (P < 0.05). The change in body composition in response to feeding of n-3 sources was associated with the change in AEU of DM, OM, and minerals, not the concentration of these components in the yolk.