USE OF CANTHAXANTHIN AND/OR 25-OH D3 FOR IMPROVED HATCHABILITY IN POULTRY

The present invention relates to the use canthaxanthin and/or 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25-OH D3) for improving breeder hatchability and fertility and for lowering embryo mortality in poultry. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of Canthaxanthin and/or 25-hydroxy canthaxanthin in the manufacture of a food or veterinary composition for improving hatchability in poultry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used throughout the specification and claims, the following definitions apply:

“Vitamin D metabolite” means any metabolite of Vitamin D as for example 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 or 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3.

“Poultry” is meant to include turkeys, ducks and chickens (including but not limited to broiler chicks, layers, breeders).

Canthaxanthin and 25-OH D3 may be obtained from any source, and a composition thereof may be prepared using convenient technology.

In a first aspect, one or more feed compositions suitable for poultry use are provided to administer canthaxanthin or 25-OH D3 and combinations thereof as nutrients to improve hatchability, fertility and lower embryo mortality during the first phase of embryo development.

In a second aspect, a poultry feed is provided which comprises from about 10 μg/kg to about 100 μg/kg of 25-OH D3 and/or from about 2 to 100 ppm canthaxanthin, preferably 2 to 10 ppm.

In another aspect, a method of administering canthaxanthin and/or 25-OH D3 to poultry breeders is provided to improve hatchability, fertility and lower embryo mortality during the first phase of embryo development.

The method for improving hatchability in poultry comprises administering to the animal in need of such treatment an amount of about 2 ppm to 100 ppm of canthaxanthin, preferably 2 to 10 ppm, and/or about 10 μg/kg to about 100 μg/kg of 25-OH D3.

In another aspect, a premix composition for poultry feed comprising 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 and canthaxanthin is provided.

Canthaxanthin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 are suitably administered together with the food. The term food as used herein comprises both solid and liquid food as well as drinking fluids such as drinking water. Particularly, inventive ingredients can be added as a formulated powder to a premix containing other minerals, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements which is added to regular animal food and thorough mixing to achieve even distribution therein.

In the manufacture of poultry feed in accordance with the invention, from about 2 ppm to 100 ppm, preferably 2-10 ppm of canthaxanthin and, if required, from about 10 μ/kg to about 100 μg/kg of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 are added to regular poultry food. Alternatively, a food premix may be prepared on the basis of regular food components by adding these active ingredients to such food components in higher concentration.

According to the present invention the canthaxanthin compound is available under the Trademark ROVIMIX®Hy-D® 1.25% and canthaxanthin under the Trademark CAROPHYLL®Red.

According to the present invention it is further advantageous if the composition also contains one or more of the following ingredients: Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Biotin, copper (e.g. as CuSO4), zinc (e.g. as ZnSO4), cobalt (e.g. as CoSO4), selenium (e.g. as Na2SeO3), iodine (e.g. as KI), manganese (e.g. as MnSO4) and/or calcium (e.g. as CaSO4).

The following non-limiting Examples are presented to better illustrate the invention.

Effect of Carophyll Red (Canthaxanthin) on the Productive and Reproductive Development of Broiler Chickens

Material & Methods

In this study 360 females and 36 male broiler chickens were used, all 45 weeks of age, and of Cobb 500 lineage. The birds were housed together in their respective treatment groups according to body weight and the uniformity of the batch.

In the pre-experiment phase, the birds underwent the recommended handling and feeding practices in the breeders' guide. To assess the fertility of the birds in each box, an incubation session was carried out for one week, and using embryo diagnostics on the eggs that did not hatch, the percentage of fertility in each box was determined. The level of fertility was taken into consideration when distributing the treatments to each of the boxes, so that all treatments had the same level of fertility at the beginning of the study.

Period of Experimentation—46th to 66th weeks:

At the start of this period, all the birds were weighed and this was repeated every 28 days during the period that the birds received the treatment (Table 1). During the experiment, information was collected on the daily production of eggs. Sample of the birds were weighed on a weekly basis.

Feeding

The diet given to the birds was a standard feed for broiler chickens with the addition of the products that were tested. The feed met all nutritional requirements in relation to the developmental stage of the birds and the recommendations in the breeders' guide. The feed was entirely vegetable-based, using corn and Soya bran (Appendices 1, 2 and 3).

TABLE 1Treatments used in the experiment on broiler chickens (lineage - Cobb500) for a period of six months.TreatmentsCarophyll Red (ppm)10260

Experimental Design

The experimental design was entirely random, with two treatments and six groups of 30 female and 3 male chickens.

Methodology

The laying rate was calculated weekly. To assess the weight of the eggs, specific gravity, average weight of eggs, yolk weight, albumen weight and the coloration of the yolk, all the eggs that were not considered suitable for incubation, collected on any given day, were used. Specific gravity was determined through the emersion of the eggs in saline solutions with densities of 1065; 1070; 1075; 1080; 1085; 1090 and 1095. The weighing of the eggs, yolks and albumen were carried out using a precision weighing scale (0.001 g). The coloration of the yolks was determined using the color fan from DSM Nutritional Products®.

To evaluate hatching, hatchability, fertility and embryonic mortality the eggs were collected daily. They were then classified and marked with the number of the corresponding box. Those that were not considered suitable for incubation were stored for a maximum period of seven days in an air-conditioned room with temperature and humidity control. Incubation was carried out in a multi-stage incubator and on day 18, the eggs were transferred to a brooder. On day 21 the chicks were taken out of the brooder, vaccinated and classified. The eggs that did not hatch then underwent embryo diagnostics to evaluate fertility and the phase of embryonic mortality.

Statistical Analysis

After the data was obtained, a variation analysis was carried and standard deviation was calculated. These statistical procedures were carried out with the help of the statistical program SAS.

Results

TABLE 5Effect of the treatments on the average embryonic mortality rate over theobserved periodEmbryonic Mortality (%)TreatmentsM1M2M3M4Control1.80 ± 0.45a0.89 ± 0.700.69 ± 0.282.07 ± 0.23 aCarophyll1.04 ± 0.41b0.66 ± 0.330.58 ± 0.331.44 ± 0.58 bRedArithmetic1.420.770.641.76MeanC.V. (%)28.0240.4154.0721.86P0.00830.22250.59800.0171(a > b Duncan's test)M1—Embryonic Mortality in the first 48 hours of incubationM2—Embryonic Mortality occurring between day 3 and day 7 of incubationM3—Embryonic Mortality occurring between day 8 and day 14 of incubationM4—Embryonic Mortality occurring between day 15 and day 21 of incubation

TABLE 10Composition of the premix added to the diet of the chickensNutrientQuantity per kilo of productUnitFolic Acid237.5mgNicotinic Acid8500mgPantothenic Acid3800mgBiotin38mgCopper12400mgCholine72000mgSulphur10222mgIron12000mgIodine160mgManganese14000mgMethionine118800mgOxytetracycline8000mgSelenium108mgVitamin A2090000UI/KgVitamin B1475mgVitamin B123800mgVitamin B21900mgVitamin B6950mgCanthaxanthin332500UI/KgVitamin E7600mgVitamin K3950mgZinc14000mg

Study if the Supplementation of Canthaxanthin and 25-OH D3 in Broiler Breeder Hens

The test has been executed according to Example 1, with the addition of ROVIMIX®Hy-D®. The treatments in example 2 were as follows:T1—Control dietT2—Control diet+60 ppm of Carophyll RedT3—Control diet+69 ppm of ROVIMIX®Hy-D®T4—Control diet+60 ppm of Carophyll Red+69 ppb of ROVIMIX®Hy-D® and with 6 replication/treatment of 40 broiler breeder and 4 cockerels per replication.

Egg production, fertility and hatchability are recorded weekly. The results are shown in Table 11. The data shows a good response for ROVIMIX®Hy-D® and canthaxanthin.