effect of in ovo injection of calcium carbonate nanoparticles on bone post hatched characteristics and broiler chicken performance

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection (ioi) of calcium carbonate nano-particles (ccn) on post-hatch bone and blood parameters and performance of broiler chickens. fertile eggs (n=400) were distributed into 4 groups of 100 eggs. on the first day of incubation, 2 groups were injected with 0.5 ml of either 100 or 200 ppm ccn/egg dissolved in normal saline and two groups were used as sham control (injected with 0.5 ml normal saline) or un-injected control. the hatched chicks from each group were randomly assigned to 4 replications of 15 chickens and reared under standard condition. the results demonstrated that body weight, spleen weight, and bone ca concentration of hatched chickens was higher by ioi of 200 ppm/egg ccn (p<0.05). the highest bursa weight was obtained by ioi of 200 ppm/egg ccn (p<0.05). the ioi of ccn at levels of 100 or 200 ppm/egg was significantly increased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and bone cu concentration of hatched chickens (p<0.05). moreover, ioi had no significant effects on performance at 1 to 21 days of age (p<0.05). these preliminary results suggest that growth and development of bone may accelerate through ioi of ccn at levels of 100 or 200 ppm/egg on 1-d of incubation.