Effects of in ovo injection of vitamin B6 and B12 in fertile eggs subjected to ethanol stress on hatchability, performance and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chicks reared under cold stress condition

In ovo injection of vitamin B6 and B12 in fertile eggs subjected to ethanol (EtOH) injection stress on hatchability (first experiment), performance and blood biochemical of broiler chicks (hatched in the first experiment) reared under cold stress condition (second experiment), were evaluated. A number of 510 fertile eggs were incubated. A number of 180 eggs were considered as controls (3 as not-injected, eggshell with a hole and distilled water-injected). A number of 110 eggs were injected with 25 µL of a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of EtOH 47.5%+distilled water. Eggs in two other groups were injected with 25 µL of a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of EtOH 47.5%+100 µL of B6 (n=110), 25 µL of a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of 47.5% EtOH+1000 µL of B12 (n=110). A number of 240 one-day chick (from the first experiment), allocated to the second experiment. Temperature was maintained 12°C from 28 to 42 d of age. Hatchability significantly (P<0.05) reduced in EtOH-injected group compared to control, but increased in the B6 and B12 injected eggs. The blood levels of triglyceride, VLDL and glucose at 14 day of age (before cold stress) significantly (P<0.05) increased in EtOH-injected group, but decreased blood levels of triglyceride, VLDL and glucose in EtOH+B6 and EtOH+B12 groups. The blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL (at 42d, after cold stress) increased in EtOH group and significantly (P<0.05) decreased in EtOH+B6 and EtOH+B12 groups.