Glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C in ovo feeding affects bone characteristics of chicks

Abstract

Different levels of glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate) and vitamin C were injected in ovo to determine whether additive use influences the incubation parameters and bone characteristics of posthatch chicks. Hatchability was not affected by addition of glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C in ovo. However, chicks that received 4 ug additive showed 2.86% reduction in total mortality when compared with chicks from non-injected eggs. Moreover, tibia area and femur bone mineral density increased in chicks from eggs injected with 2.16 and 6.00 mu g of additive, respectively. In ovo feeding with glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C can benefit bone development in embryos and reduce total mortality during the incubation period.