Effect of commercial product containing canthaxanthin for in ovo feeding to broiler embryos, on hatchability, chick quality, oxidation status and performance

ABSTRACT In ovo feeding has been indicated to improve hatchability, newly hatched chicks quality and broiler performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of in ovo feeding (IOF) of a commercial canthaxanthin product (CCX) containing lignosulphonate, corn starch, canthaxanthin, dextrin (yellow) and ethoxyquin through assessing incubation results, newly-hatched quality and oxidation status and broiler performance at 1 to 14 days old. A total of 780 egg were distributed in a randomized complete block design with five treatments (levels of CCX: 0.0, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55 and 0.65 mg/0.5 mL of sterilized and distilled water) and 156 eggs per treatment. The blocking factor was setters. At 17.5 d of embryo development, in ovo injected treatments were applied, using a manual needle. The IOF of CCX resulted in lower hatching rates (P 0.05). In addition, a higher percentage of chicks with poor physical quality score (