The Effect of In Ovo Injection of Fadrozole Hydrochloride, Nettle Extract and Mushroom Extracts on Sex Reversal, Performance Traits, Blood Lipids and White Blood Cells and Muscle Structure of Broiler Chicks

It is possible for Sex reversal of eggs with female embryo using anti-aromatase agents, and the hatchlings have an improved performance.

The present study was conducted to survey the effect of in ovo injection of 0.1 mL Nettle (Urtica dioica) and mushroom extracts and Fadrozole hydrochloride as anti-aromatase agents  on sex differentiation of broiler chickens.

366 fertile eggs from Ross 308 strain broiler breeders were divided into 4 groups. At the beginning of the fifth day of incubation in ovo injection operation was carried out. A control group was injected with 0.1 mL distilled water. The hatched chickens were then reared in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 6 replicates for 42 days.

In ovo injection of 0.1 mL of fadrozole hydrochloride, mushroom and nettle extracts led to 100, 66.67 and 37.5 percent sex reversal, respectively (p < /em><0.05). During the whole of the experimental period, daily feed intake and daily weight gain of chickens of fadrozole hydrochloride and mushroom extract groups were higher than those on the control and nettle extract (p < /em><0.05). Fadrozole hydrochloride reduced levels of serum triglyceride and VLDL (p < /em> <0.05), but there was no significant difference in cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels (p < /em>> 0.05). White blood cells and hematocrit percentage were not affected by experimental treatments (p < /em>> 0.05). Compared with other treatments, in ovo injection of mushroom extract caused a significant increase in the number and average diameter of muscle fibers (p < /em><0.05).

The findings of this study confirm the significant anti-aramatogenic properties of the mushroom extract and the positive effect of in ovo injection of  mushroom extract on the sexes reversal and improvement in performance of broiler chickens.