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Impact of feed glyphosate residues on broiler breeder egg production and egg hatchability.

ABSTRACT: Glyphosate is the active substance in glyphosate-based herbicides, e.g. Roundup. Its widespread application on feed crops leaves residues in the feed. Glyphosate has antimicrobial and mineral chelating properties and we investigated whether there is an association between feed residues of glyphosate on the one side and broiler breeder egg laying percent and egg hatchability on the other side. Twenty-six feed samples from five conventional flocks producing hatching eggs were analysed for glyphosate. Data on laying percent and egg hatchability from periods following each feed sampling were then associated with feed residues of glyphosate. The average glyphosate residue level was 0.09 mg/kg, maximum was 0.19 and minimum was 0.004 mg/kg. Average laying percent over observation days was 65% (SD = 5.4%) and average hatchability was 79% (SD = 5.8%). We found a negative association between feed glyphosate residue level and hatchability (P = 0.03) when adjusted for breeder age, storage time of eggs on farm before delivery and storage time at hatchery before incubation start. No association was found with laying percent (P = 0.59) adjusted for breeder age. The range of glyphosate concentrations in feed was narrow and should be kept in mind when interpreting both significant and non-significant associations with glyphosate residue concentrations. In nine of 24 analysed conventional eggs the concentration of glyphosate in yolk was above the detection limit however below the quantification limit indicating that traces of glyphosate are common in conventional eggs.

SUBMITTER: Foldager L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8481226 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The feed restriction applied during rearing of broiler breeders inflicts chronic hunger, and frustration due to unfulfilled behavioural needs for feeding. To alleviate the welfare problems associated with feed restriction, qualitative feed restriction allows a larger amount of feed to be provided without increasing the energy intake. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the effect of scatter-fed qualitative feed restriction on a range of welfare indicators in broiler breeders at the end of the rearing period. In total, 1,200 female breeder chicks of the genotype Ross 308 were housed in 24 pens: six pens of initially 50 birds per dietary treatment. The treatments were: (1) standard feed (Control), (2) standard feed diluted with oat hulls (Insoluble), (3) standard feed diluted with oat hulls and sugar beet pulp (Mixed), and (4) standard feed plus maize silage (Roughage). At 15 weeks of age, a blood sample was taken from 40 birds (10/treatment) five times within 24 h. The plasma was analysed for corticosterone concentration. At 19 weeks of age, a clinical welfare assessment was performed on all birds before they were sacrificed. From each bird, three feathers were plucked and macroscopically examined for the presence of fault bars. Feather length and weight were also recorded. Mortality was registered on occurrence throughout the rearing period. Treatment affected the plumage condition, footpad dermatitis, plumage dirtiness, vent pasting, and number of severe fault bars (P ≤ 0.05) but not plasma corticosterone concentration, hock burns, hyperkeratosis and mortality (P ≥ 0.17). There was an effect of the interactions between treatment and feather type on the total number of fault bars per feather, average position of the fault bars relative to the base of the feather, and growth rates of feather mass and length (P < 0.0001). Overall, the results showed improved welfare of Roughage birds and reduced welfare of Mixed birds, whereas the welfare of Insoluble birds did not seem to differ noticeably from that of Control birds. We recommend to further develop a feeding strategy that includes daily allocation of roughage to broiler breeders during the rearing period.

Project description:Laying hens experience a rapid decline in egg production, egg quality, and immunity, usually at the end of the peak laying period. Quercetin, a known flavonoid, exerts biological activities, including phytoestrogenic, immunity, antibiotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E also shows egg production and immunoregulatory potential in animals. This study evaluated the capacity of dietary quercetin, vitamin E, and the combination of both, to promote egg production and egg quality, and to improve the immunity of aging breeder hens. We also elucidated how quercetin and vitamin E combination could synergistically affect egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens. A total of 400 Tianfu broiler breeders at the age of 52 wk were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 4 replicates, 100 hens per treatment and 25 hens per replicate. They were fed diets containing quercetin at 0.4 g/kg, Vitamin E (200 mg/kg), quercetin and vitamin E (0.4 g/kg and 200 mg/kg), and a basal diet (control) for a period 10 wk. Daily feed intake and egg production rate were recorded, and weekly records were recorded on egg quality tests. At the end of the 10-wk experimental period, blood samples and immune organ (spleen) were collected from 2 birds per replicate, totaling 32 birds. Feed intake, immune organ index, serum cytokines, and immunoglobulins were evaluated, and the mRNA expression of genes related to immunity was determined from the spleen tissue. Generally, the results showed that separately or as a combination, supplemental quercetin and vitamin E significantly improved performance and egg quality (P < 0.05), and significantly increased serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) concentrations, as well as promoted immune organ development and index, and promoted the expression of splenic immune-related genes (IL-2 and INF-γ) (P < 0.05), compared with the control. It was confirmed in this study that the combination of quercetin and vitamin E exert synergistic effects on egg production, egg quality, and immune function in aging hens.

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Impact of feed glyphosate residues on broiler breeder egg production and egg hatchability.

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