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The combined effects of breeder age and oxygen (O 2 ) concentrations on embryo development, hatching events, chick quality, embryonic mortality and hatchability were investigated. A total of 900 hatching eggs of average weight of 53.85 ± 2.40 g and 60.42 ± 2.02 g from 33 to 50 wks ISA layer breeders were incubated for six days at 37.7 °C temperature and 56 % relative humidity (RH) before exposure to hypoxic stimulation of 15 % and 17 % O 2 (experimental groups) and 21 % O 2 (control group). In a 2 x 3 factorial experiment, air-N 2 flushing to reduce O 2 was 1 h daily from embryonic day (ED)7-9. The study investigated fresh egg weight before setting, egg weight loss and embryonic parameters at ED11, hatching events, chick quality, embryonic mortality and hatchability. Results showed that regardless of breeder age, early mild hypoxia reduces (P < 0.001) embryonic growth rate immediately after exposure and 50 wks breeders were more susceptible because of higher (P < 0.001) egg weight loss. There was an interaction effect (P < 0.05) on hatching durations, hatch time, hatch window, chick weight, yolk-free chick weight and pipping muscle. Results also showed a combined effect (P < 0.05) on high early and pipping embryonic mortality while causing a decrease in the hatch of fertile eggs. Early hypoxic stimulation decreased (P = 0.05) yolk sac weight at hatch due to the catch-up growth mechanism during embryogenesis. Conclusively, an early mild hypoxic stimulation can potentially improve chick quality in both young and old layer breeders if an optimal condition can be achieved., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

1: The study aim was to evaluate the prebiotic effects of Talinum triangulare and Mangifera indica used on slow growing broiler chickens., 2: Three hundred and sixty (360) slow-growing chicks of four weeks of age and similar weight were selected and divided into four (04) treatments (Positive Control, Negative Control, 2 % T. triangulare and 2 % M. indica ) of 6 replicates with, fifteen (15) chicks per replicate, which made ninety (90) chicks per treatment., 3: At 12 week age, blood sample and cecal content were taken from 6 chickens per treatment to determine heamatological profile and fermentation parameters (Short Chain Fatty Acid). The data obtained were submitted to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the software R version 3.6.2 (R Core Team, 2019)., 4: Results showed that growth performance, haematological parameters, acetic, butyric, valeric and caproic acids were similar between broilers fed with the leave powders and the positive control treatment. However, broilers fed with Talinum triangulare and Mangifera indica powders showed a lower mortality rate, compared to the negative and positive control treatments. Moreover, broilers fed with the leave powders showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) formic acid concentration than the other treatments., 5: Talinum triangulare and Mangifera indica leaves could have prebiotic properties because they stimulated the production of short-chain fatty acids that keep animals healthy., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:SODJINOU Dossou Bruno reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/100004421World Bank Group. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In this study, we aim to evaluate the chemical characteristics, and nutritional quality of raw meat from broiler chicken fed a black soldier fly larvae meal. Three hundred twenty female broiler chicks were divided into four dietary treatments (8 replicates/treatments). Birds were fed maggot meal at 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%. At 42 days of age, 16 birds/treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered. The chemical characteristics and nutritional quality of the meat were assessed. Abdominal fat, intramuscular lipid levels, and cholesterol levels increased (p < 0.05) in chicken-fed larvae meal. The latter had a higher level of mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids but a lower level of omega 3 (ω3) compared to the control. The atherogenicity index (AI) and the thrombogenicity index (TI) decreased with maggot meal incorporation. The unsaturation index was better at 4% and 8% maggot meal. Chickens fed with 8% maggot meal would present less risk for cardiovascular health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Additional informationNo additional information is available for this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)