effects of two dietary levels of L-carnitine and vegetable fat powder on the quality of cockerels' sperm and fertility and hatchability in broiler breeders

To investigate the effect of two dietary levels of l-carnitine and vegetable fat powder on the quality of cockerels' sperm and broiler breeder fertility and hatchability. Two hundred and fifty female and twenty five male broiler breeders. were studied Classic Hubbard parent stocks were randomly distributed in five groups of 50 with five replicates of 10 females and one male. Two levels of l-carnitine 0, 60 ppm [for females] and 0, 500 ppm [for males] and vegetable fat powder [0, 1. 5%] were used in a completely random design. At first, data were analyzed in factorial arrangement but no interaction was observed and then a completely randomized design was employed. A diet with high lysine and methionine was fed to one group of birds. Determined variables were hatchability, fertility, egg production, egg weight, albumen height, Hugh unit, color of yolk, shell thickness, shell strength, semen volume, sperm motility, live sperm percent, sperm count and normal sperm percent. Supplemented diet with l-carnitine had significant effects during the hatchability [p < 0. 01-0. 05], fertility [p < 0. 01], semen quantity and sperm quality [p < 0. 01]. L-carnitine had no effect on egg production except on fifth and sixth weeks of experiment [p < 0. 01]; also, l-carnitine had no effect on egg characteristics. Supplementation of l-carnitine in broiler breeders rations increases their fertility, hatchability and sperm quality

Comparison of Different Omega-3 Fatty Acid Sources for Enrichment of Egg

To compare different omega-3 fatty acid sources for enrichment of egg from economical and qualitative aspects.Compeletely Randomized Design. One hundred and eighty Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens, 24 weeks old. Ten groups of 18 hens [6 hens/cage] were randomly assigned to each of ten dietary treatments and in compeletely randomized design, were fed diets containing 2.5 ko[3]/41, 5 ko[3]/41 and 7.5 ko[3]/41 flax seed, canola seed and fish meal or a wheat- soybean control diet, for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, percentage of linolenic acid [n-3], linoleic acid [n-6], oleic acid [n-9] and some of saturated fatty acids were determined. Statistical Analysis: Analysis of variance of data were performed by SAS software and comparison of the means were done by Duncan's multiple range test. There were significant difference among groups on linolenic acid, linoleic acid percentage and ratio of linoleic acid [n-6] to linolenic acid [n-3][P<0.05]. The greatest value for linolenic acid was in the group given 7.5 ko[3]/41 flax seed. During this period, there were no significant differences [P>0.05] among treatments on egg production, egg weights, daily feed intake, feed conversion, and quality of eggs [P>0.05]. With note to increasing in linolenic acid amount of egg yolks in the group given 7.5 ko[3]/41 canola seed and because of low cost and abundance of canola seed in Iran, and not to be influenced of performance of laying hens and quality of eggs, 7.5ko[3]/41 canola seed could be recommended