EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL BIOTIN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF AGED FAYOUMI HENS AND PROGENY PERFORMANCE. By

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1 Egypt. Poult. Sci. Vol (32) (IV): ( ) EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL BIOTIN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF AGED FAYOUMI HENS AND PROGENY PERFORMANCE. By M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan Animal Prod. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Ministry of Agric, Doki, Giza, Egypt. Received: 08/11/2012 Accepted: 28/11/2012 ABSTRACT: A 12-wk laying trial, using 240 hens and 24 cocks of 52-wk old Fayoumi chicken strain, was conducted to determine whether hatchability can be improved by dietary biotin supplementation during the late stages of egg production and to study its effect on progeny performance. Birds were divided into 4 equal groups of 6 replicates each. A corn-soybean meal basal layer diet was formulated to contain 16.5 % CP & 2700 kcal ME/kg diet (as a control diet). Also, a corn-soybean meal basal starter diet was formulated to contain 18.5 % CP & 2814 kcal ME/kg diet (for feeding offspring). The vitamin mineral premix used in the basal diet supplied 50 µg biotin per kg of diet. Three experimental layer diets were formulated to contain similar composition as the control diet except for it contains 100, and µg biotin/kg of diet, respectively. Therefore, four experimental dietary treatments were studied during the laying trial period. The studied criteria for laying hens included egg number, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, early embryonic mortality %, late embryonic mortality %, healthy chicks, culled chicks %, hatch chick weight, fertility %, hatchability %, egg shape index, shell thickness, yolk index, Haugh unit, egg albumen %, egg yolk % and egg shell %. The studied criteria for progeny included hatch chick weight as well as body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate at 8 weeks of age. The results showed that biotin addition to layers diets at levels of μg/kg diet gave the best improvement in egg production %, egg number, egg mass and feed conversion ratio as well as the highest increase in egg shape index, yolk index and Haugh unit. Also, such biotin level gave significant improvement in hatchability %, healthy chicks % and hatch chick weight. It also gave significant decrease in early embryonic mortality %, late embryonic mortality % and culled chicks % as well as significant improvement in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio for offspring at 8 wks of age. The results also showed that egg albumen % and shell % were significantly increased by adding biotin to layers diets at levels of or μg/kg diet compared to other treatments. However, birds fed biotin-supplemented layer diets had similar feed intake values and yolk % compared to control birds. Under the present experimental conditions, it is advisable to add µg biotin/kg of laying hen diet. Such practice helps in improving laying performance, hatchability parameters, egg quality, egg albumin and offspring performance. INTRODUCTION Fertility and hatchability are the most important determinant for producing more chicks from given number of breeding stock within a stipulated period. Egg fertility (Alsobayel, 1992) and hatchability (Roque and Soares, 1994 and Buhr, 1995), the most important parameters of reproductive performance, tends to decline with hen age. This is related to the internal egg composition, larger egg weight, poor shell quality, increased early and late embryo mortality

2 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan (North and Bell, 1990; Benette, 1992; Vieira and Mora, 1998; Leeson and Summers, 2000; Elibol and Brake, 2003; Tona et al., 2004 and Joseph and Moran, 2005), albumen quality deterioration (Lapao et al., 1999 and Tona et al., 2004) and the increase in yolk cholesterol content (Dikmen and Sahan, 2007). Fertility and hatchability has heritability ranges from 0.06 to 0.13 in chickens (Sapp et al., 2004). This indicates that the non-genetic factors have a higher influence on these traits. Breeder nutrition is one of the most important factors that affect egg hatchability (Kirk et al., 1980; Wilson, 1991, 1997 and Tona et al., 2005), thus eggs with insufficient nutrient content may contribute to the failure of a fertile egg to hatch. Biotin (vitamin H) is a watersoluble B-vitamin and an essential coenzyme that contributes an integral part of embryonic development. Its physiologically active form is linked to biotin-dependent enzymes of great metabolic importance like biotin carboxylase and biotin decarboxylase and seems to be a key-enzyme in gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis (Chen et al., 1994). Thus, it contributes to growth, bone development, reproduction, improving feed conversion in animals (McMahon, 2002) and improving the performance of breeder hens and chicks (Arends et al., 1971; Watkins and Kratzer, 1987; Kruger and Brown, 1987 and Robel, 1989 & 1991). Maternal dietary biotin level could influence growth rate in poults fed inadequate or marginal biotin levels (Arends et al., 1971). Birds do not have the capability to synthesize biotin, which is provided, under physiological conditions, by microbial synthesis of gut flora (Payne et al., 1974). Biotin absorption can be reduced by some biological factors such as fungi mould (Saccaromyces avidinii) that bind biotin and make it unavailable for the organism, also biotin requirement is increased by aflatoxins (Buenrostro and Kratzer, 1983). The avidin, biotin-binding protein, of egg albumen completely binds biotin, thus eggs with high avidin content may limit biotin availability for embryo's development (Carnici and Manzoli- Guidotti, 1968). Egg biotin is positively related to dietary biotin. Egg biotin content increased with incremental dietary biotin levels, thus supplementing diets with biotin is very important to increase its level in hatching eggs (Frigg et al., 1984 and Robel, 1991). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary biotin supplementation on productive and reproductive performance of aged Fayoumi hens, a native breed of chickens in Egypt, during their late stage of production and to study its effect on progeny performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental birds and housing: A total of 240 hens and 24 cocks of 52-wk old Fayoumi chicken strain were individually leg-banded, weighed and randomly divided into 4 equal groups (60 hens + 6 cocks each) of 6 replicates each. The average initial live body weight was insignificantly different in all groups. Birds under each group were randomly housed in individual battery laying cages. All birds were reared under similar management conditions the light program was maintained constantly at 16 h light: 8 h dark during the whole experimental period. The trial lasted for three 4-wk production periods. Experimental diets and treatments: A corn-soybean meal basal experimental layer diet was formulated to contain 16.5 % CP & 2700 kcal ME/kg diet and served as a control diet for hens. Also, a corn-soybean meal basal experimental starter diet was formulated to contain 18.5 % CP & 2814 kcal ME/kg diet for feeding 896

3 Biotin, Fayoumi, laying, production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, offspring. offspring. The vitamin and mineral premix used in the basal diet supplied 50 µg biotin per kg of diet. Three experimental layer diets were formulated to contain similar composition as the control diet except for it contains 100, and µg biotin/kg of diet, respectively. Therefore, four experimental dietary treatments were studied during the laying trial period. The composition and chemical analysis of the experimental basal diet was shown in Table (1). Measurements and Data Collection Egg production traits: Daily egg number (EN) and egg weight (EW, g) as well as weekly feed intake (FI, g/bird) was recorded. Egg production (EP, %), egg mass (EM, g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, g feed/g egg) were calculated per each replicate and treatment from 52 to 64 weeks of age. Egg quality: Egg quality was assessed in 30 eggs/treatment during the last week of each production period. Egg shape index (ESI) was calculated according the equation reported by Stadelman (1977), [ESI = (egg width/egg length) x 100]. Shell thickness (STh, mm) was measured by a micrometer as an average of 3 points (top, medial and base). Yolk index and Haugh unit were calculated according to Wesley and Stadelman (1959), and Haugh (1937), respectively. Egg components in terms of the percentages of egg albumen (Alb, %), yolk (Y, %) and shell (S, %) were also determined. Hatching parameters: During each production period, eggs were collected and incubated. At hatching time, healthy chicks (%), culled chicks (%) and hatch chick weight values were calculated. Infertile eggs were examined to determine fertility (%, fertile eggs/total eggs x 100) and hatchability of fertile eggs (%, hatched chicks/fertile eggs x 100). Percentages of early embryonic mortality and late embryonic mortality were also calculated. Offspring performance: Individual body weight (BW, g) and feed intake (FI, g/bird) were recorded to determine body weight gain (BWG, g). Feed conversion ratio (FCR, g feed/g gain) and mortality rate (MR) % were also calculated at 8 weeks of age. Chemical analysis: Experimental diets were analyzed following procedures detailed by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 1990) for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and ether extract (EE). Metabolizable energy (ME) of experimental diets was calculated considering the ME values of different feed ingredients according to the Feed Composition Tables for Animal and Poultry Feedstuffs Used in Egypt (2001). Statistical analysis: Obtained data were expressed as means ± standard error and statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance according to Steel and Torrie (1980). Also, the General Linear Method (GLM) procedure of SPSS (1993) computer statistical program for MS Windows release 6.0 was used. The significant means were ranked using Duncan's Range Test (Duncan, 1955) as outlined by Obi (1990). Statistical significance level was tested at probability of P RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Egg production traits: The results obtained for egg production traits in terms of egg number (EN), egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), egg mass (EM), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 52-56,

4 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan 60 and weeks of age are shown in Table (2). During the different periods of the experiment, it was noticed that there were no significant differences in FI among different treatments. However, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg did not cause significant change in all egg production traits. On the other hand, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg gave significant improvement in EP, EN, EM, and FCR, but it did not significantly affect EW. The present study indicated that biotin seems to play a more prominent role in the conversion of feed to eggs. Egg quality: The results obtained for exterior egg quality parameters in terms of egg shape index (ESI), specific gravity (SG) and shell thickness (STh) as well as interior egg quality in terms of yolk index (YI) and Haugh unit (HU) at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age are shown in Table (3). At 56 weeks of age, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg did not cause significant change in all egg quality parameters. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect. At 60 weeks of age, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg did not cause significant change in all egg quality parameters, except for STh that significantly increased. However, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg gave significant increase in all egg quality parameters, except for SG that did not significantly differ. At 64 weeks of age, the results followed the same trend previously mentioned at 60 weeks of age. Haugh units are lower in lowerbiotin-diets. Eggshell is reduced as the hen age increases; likewise, there is a correlation between specific gravity and eggshell thickness (Bennett, 1993; Narushin, 1997; Moyle et al., 2008; Butcher and Miles, 2011). There is a little information regarding biotin supplementation on egg quality characters. Egg components: The results for egg components parameters in terms of the percentages of egg albumen (Alb, %), yolk (Y, %) and shell (S, %) at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age are given in Table (4). During the different periods of the experiment, it was noticed that there were no significant differences in Y % among different treatments. This is in disagreement with the findings of North and Bell (1990) who reported that as egg size increases, yolk size increases more than the quantity of albumen. During the different periods of the experiment, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg did not cause significant change in all egg components parameters. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect. Hatching parameters: The results obtained for hatching parameters in terms of the percentages of early embryonic mortality, late embryonic mortality, healthy chicks, culled chicks, fertility and hatchability as well as chick weight (g), at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age are presented in Table (5). During the different periods of the experiment, it was noticed that there were no significant differences in fertility % among different treatments. In this study, there is a general tendency of fertility to decline with age. This result is agreed in general with the results of Alsobayel (1992) who reported that hen age has an influence on the fertility of eggs. At 56 weeks of age, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg gave significant decrease in the percentages of early embryonic mortality, late embryonic mortality and culled chicks and significant increase in healthy chicks %; however, 898

5 Biotin, Fayoumi, laying, production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, offspring. chick weight as well as fertility and hatchability % were not significantly differ. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect. At 60 weeks of age, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg gave significant decrease in both early and late embryonic mortalities % and significant increase in healthy chicks and hatchability %; however, culled chicks % and chick weight were not significantly differ. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect, except for chick weight that significantly increased. At 64 weeks of age, increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg gave significant decrease in both early and late embryonic mortalities % and significant increase in healthy chicks %, chick weight and hatchability %; however, culled chicks % was not significantly differ. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect, except for culled chicks % that significantly decreased. Robel and Christensen (1987) reported increases in hatchability with added biotin. The improvement observed in hatchability of eggs in this study could be associated with the increase in egg weight. Senapati et al., (1996I) found that there was a positive correlation between egg weight and hatchability. It can be suggested that the increase in hatchability may be due to the increased egg shell thickness (Roque and Soares, 1994). The culled chicks observed in this study may be useful in diagnosing subclinical biotin deficiency. The increase in hatch chick weight observed in this study may be due to the increase in egg weight. In this respect, Abiola (1999) found a close correlation between egg weight and hatching weight in domestic birds. Offspring performance: The results obtained for offspring performance in terms of BW, BWG, FI, FCR and MR at 8 weeks of age during the different hatching periods are shown in Table (6). It was noticed that there were no significant differences in FI among different treatments. Increasing biotin level from 50 to 100 µg/kg gave significant increase in BW and BWG; however, no significant differences were observed in both chick weight and FCR due to different treatments. Also, increasing biotin level from to µg/kg showed the same trend in this respect. The improvement in BW at 8 wks of age in the present study may be due to the increase in EW. The effect of the egg weight on body weight at market age has been found to be independent of breeder's age from which the eggs originated (Tufft and Jensen, 1991). Given the high correlation between egg weight and final body weight, the economic importance of egg weight is apparent (Wilson, 1991). From the nutritional point of view, under the present experimental conditions, it is advisable to add µg biotin/kg of laying hen diet. Such practice is particularly important for older birds because it helps in improving laying performance, hatchability parameters and offspring growth performance. However, the addition of or µg biotin/kg of laying hen diet led to an improvement in egg quality and egg albumin during different periods of the experiment. 899

6 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan Table (1): Composition and calculated analysis of the experimental layer and starter basal diets. Ingredients Percentage Layer basal diet Starter basal diet Yellow Corn, ground Soybean meal(44% CP) Wheat bran Dicalcium phosphate Limestone Common salt (NaCl) Premix* DL-Methionine Total Determined values (%) CP CF EE Calculated values ME (kcal/kg) Ca % Av. Phosphorus % L-Lysine % DL-Methionine % Methionine + Cyst % Sodium % *Supplied the following per kg of diet: Vit. A I.U., Vit. D I.U., Vit. E 40 mg, Vit. K 3 4 mg, Vit. B 1 3 mg, Vit. B 2 6 mg, Vit. B 6 4 mg, Vit. B mg, Niacin 30 mg, Pantothenic acid 12 mg, Folic acid 1.5 mg, Biotin 50 µg, Choline chloride 700 mg, Mn 80 mg, Cu 10 mg, Se 0.2 mg, I 40 mg, Fe 40 mg, Zn 70 mg and Co 0.25 mg. 900

7 Biotin, Fayoumi, laying, production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, offspring. 901 Table (2): Effect of dietary treatments on performance of Fayoumi hens from 52 to 64 weeks. Treatments EP EN EW EM FI FCR (%) (No./hen/day) (g) (g/hen/day) (g/hen/day) (g feed/g egg) wks. Control (50 µg/kg) 52.22±0.40 c 0.512±0.02 c 46.11±0.32 b 24.08±0.37 c ± ±0.02 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 53.06±0.33 c 0.531±0.01 c 46.05±0.51 b 24.43±0.22 c ± ±0.03 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 56.36±0.54 b 0.564±0.02 b 48.30±0.29 a 27.22±0.20 b ± ±0.01 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 59.45±0.27 a 0.595±0.03 a 48.05±0.63 a 28.57±0.30 a ± ±0.03 c wks. Control (50 µg/kg) 51.31±0.63 c 0.513±0.03 c 41.91±0.37 b 21.50±0.19 c ± ±0.04 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 52.47±0.23 c 0.525±0.04 c 43.06±0.41 b 22.59±0.25 c ± ±0.02 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 55.36±0.40 b 0.554±0.01 b 45.02±0.25 a 24.92±0.21 b ± ±0.02 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 57.66±0.30 a 0.577±0.01 a 46.30±0.33 a 26.70±0.38 a ± ±0.03 c wks. Control (50 µg/kg) 50.44±0.49 c 0.504±0.02 c 39.00±0.53 b 19.67±0.54 c ± ±0.03 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 50.14±0.54 c 0.501±0.03 c 40.05±0.27 b 20.08±0.21 c ± ±0.02 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 52.28±0.34 b 0.523±0.02 b 42.53±0.32 a 22.23±0.18 b ± ±0.02 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 55.09±0.41 a 0.551±0.01 a 43.00±0.40 a 23.69±0.27 a ± ±0.02 c wks (overall period) Control (50 µg/kg) 51.32±0.30 c 0.513±0.02 c 42.34±0.39 b 21.73±0.21 c ± ±0.01 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 51.89±0.50 c 0.519±0.01 c 43.05±0.30 b 22.34±0.41 c ± ±0.08 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 54.67±0.22 b 0.547±0.03 b 45.28±0.48 a 24.75±0.33 b ± ±0.03 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 57.40±0.40 a 0.574±0.02 a 45.78±0.22 a 26.28±0.29 a ± ±0.02 c Means in the same column having different letters are significantly different at P EP = Egg production EN = Egg number EW = Egg weight FI = Feed intake FCR = Feed conversion ratio

8 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan 902 Table (3): Effect of dietary treatments on egg quality of Fayoumi hens at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age. Treatments ESI Exterior egg quality SG STh (mm) Interior egg quality 56 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 0.751±0.15 b 1.076±0.01 b 0.355±0.03 b 0.461±0.02 b 82.1±0.44 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 0.767±0.18 b 1.064±0.01 b 0.348±0.02 b 0.468±0.02 b 83.3±0.50 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 0.791±0.11 a 1.082±0.01 a 0.372±0.04 a 0.477±0.02 a 85.4±0.31 a Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 0.798±0.20 a 1.096±0.02 a 0.384±0.02 a 0.558±0.02 a 85.6±0.29 a 60 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 0.756±0.07 b 1.071±0.02 b 0.321±0.05 d 0.462±0.03 b 79.62±0.32 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 0.758±0.13 b 1.064±0.01 b 0.335±0.04 c 0.464±0.05 b 80.25±0.04 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 0.767±0.12 b 1.076±0.02 a 0.352±0.04 b 0.471±0.02 b 80.86±0.13 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 0.780±0.10 a 1.089±0.01 a 0.373±0.03 a 0.535±0.03 a 84.17±0.51 a 64 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 0.748±0.11 b 1.063±0.01 b 0.320±0.08 d 0.453±0.06 b 77.47±0.32 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 0.751±0.10 b 1.066±0.03 b 0.336±0.10 c 0.457±0.09 b 75.83±0.04 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 0.760±0.09 b 1.076±0.02 a 0.352±0.05 b 0.470±0.06 b 78.14±0.13 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 0.775±0.05 a 1.081±0.03 a 0.371±0.09 a 0.522±0.07 a 84.21±0.51 a Means in the same column having different letters are significantly different at P ESI = Egg shape index YI = Yolk index SG = Specific gravity STh = Shell thickness HU = Haugh unit YI HU

9 Biotin, Fayoumi, laying, production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, offspring. 903 Table (4): Effect of dietary treatments on egg components of Fayoumi hens at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age. Treatments Egg components (% of EW) Alb Y S 56 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 55.31±0.21 b 33.21± ±0.12 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 55.31±0.23 b 33.23± ±0.11 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 56.06±0.27 a 33.12± ±0.10 a Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 56.07±0.20 a 33.08± ±0.09 a 60 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 56.34±0.30 b 32.19± ±0.11 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 56.29±0.14 b 32.20± ±0.10 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 57.05±0.21 a 32.18± ±0.13 a Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 57.06±0.33 a 32.09± ±0.10 a 64 wk Control (50 µg/kg) 57.14±0.22 b 31.34± ±0.10 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 57.19±0.21 b 31.31± ±0.11 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 58.05±0.16 a 31.14± ±0.13 a Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 58.11±0.32 a 31.22± ±0.10 a Means in the same column having different letters are significantly different at P Alb = Albumen Y = Yolk S = Shell

10 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan 904 Table (5): Effect of dietary treatments on hatching parameters of Fayoumi hens at 56, 60 and 64 weeks of age. Dietary treatments Early embryonic mortality (%) Late embryonic mortality (%) Healthy chicks (%) Culled chicks (%) Chick weight (g) Fertility (%) Hatchability (%) 1 st hatch (56 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 4.04±0.31 a 2.67±0.16 a 78.31±0.63 b 2.50±0.02 a 26.34±1.51 b 93.50± ±0.14 b Biotin (100 µg/kg) 3.10±0.24 b 1.57±0.18 b 84.86±0.73 a 1.61±0.03 b 25.12±1.64 b 93.54± ±0.13 b Biotin ( µg/kg) 3.15±0.20 b 1.50±0.10 b 85.03±0.74 a 1.69±0.06 b 28.56±1.33 a 93.62± ±0.12 a Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 1.26±0.32 c 0.88±0.15 c 85.00±0.81 a 1.76±0.13 b 29.10±1.28 a 93.80± ±0.12 a 2 nd hatch (60 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 6.34±0.23 a 3.86±0.12 a 75.15±0.67 d 3.64±0.12 a 24.14±1.52 c 91.73± ±0.12 d Biotin (100 µg/kg) 5.00±0.20 b 2.77±0.10 b 81.10±0.80 c 3.23±0.06 a 24.10±1.44 c 91.91± ±0.14 c Biotin ( µg/kg) 3.28±0.19 c 1.33±0.17 c 82.00±0.75 b 2.17±0.08 b 26.33±1.67 b 91.89± ±0.12 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 1.33±0.25 d 0.64±0.14 d 83.12±0.42 a 2.10±0.10 b 28.33±1.31 a 91.86± ±0.12 a 3 rd hatch (64 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 5.56±0.18 a 5.77±0.10 a 74.24±0.44 d 4.83±0.07 a 23.10±1.48 d 90.73± ±0.09 d Biotin (100 µg/kg) 4.32±0.21 b 3.37±0.13 b 78.37±0.69 c 4.60±0.05 a 24.00±1.66 c 90.91± ±0.05 c Biotin ( µg/kg) 3.73±0.23 c 2.00±0.15 c 80.30±0.37 b 3.10±0.10 b 25.42±1.75 b 90.89± ±0.07 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 2.00±0.22 d 0.55±0.17 d 83.56±0.51 a 2.10±0.11 c 28.40±1.34 a 90.86± ±0.08 a Means in the same column having different letters are significantly different at P 0.05.

11 Biotin, Fayoumi, laying, production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, offspring. 905 Table (6): Effect of dietary treatments on offspring performance at 8 weeks of age. Dietary treatments Hatch chick weight (g/chick/d) BW (g/bird/8wk) BWG (g/bird/8wk) FI (g/bird/8wk) FCR (g feed/g egg) 1 st hatch (56 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 24.06±0.42 b ±2.14 d ±1.33 d ± ±0.23 a 3.11±0.23 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 24.42±0.46 b ±2.07 c ±1.21 c ± ±0.30 a 3.00±0.30 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 28.14±0.37 a ±2.20 b ±1.41 b ± ±0.21 b 1.67±0.21 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 28.33±0.54 a ±1.78 a ±1.10 a ± ±0.27 b 1.33±0.27 b 2 nd hatch (60 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 24.00±0.15 c ±1.00 d ±1.05 d ± ±0.46 a 4.22±0.17 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 24.20±0.22 c ±1.10 c ±1.00 c ± ±0.31 a 4.00±0.20 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 26.05±0.10 b ±1.14 b ±1.11 b ± ±0.40 b 1.33±0.36 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 28.19±0.21 a ±1.12 a ±1.13 a ± ±0.33 b 1.11±0.24 b 3 rd hatch (64 wk) Control (50 µg/kg) 22.01±0.10 d ±1.10 d ±1.14 d ± ±0.51 a 5.11±0.31 a Biotin (100 µg/kg) 24.04±0.21 c ±1.00 c ±1.13 c ± ±0.27 a 5.00±0.25 a Biotin ( µg/kg) 26.12±0.11 b ±1.05 b ±1.00 b ± ±0.44 b 2.67±0.42 b Biotin (325.5 µg/kg) 28.50±0.14 a ±1.13 a ±1.22 a ± ±0.20 b 2.33±0.33 b Means in the same column having different letters are significantly different at P BW = Body weight BWG = Body weight gain FI = feed intake FCR = Feed conversion ratio MR = mortality rate MR (%)

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14 M.A.A. Abdel-Mageed and S.A.M. Shabaan Vieira, S. L. and T. Mora Jr., (1998). Eggs and chicks from broiler breeders of extremely different age. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 7: Watkins, B. A. and H. F. Kratzer, (1987). Effects of dietary biotin and linoleate on polyunsaturated fatty acids in tissue phospholipids. Poult. Sci., 66: Wesley, R. L. and W. J. Stadelman, (1959). Measurement of interior egg quality. Poult. Sci., 38: Wilson, H. R., (1991). Interrelationships of egg size, chick size, post hatching growth and hatchability. Worlds Poult. Sci. J., 47: Wilson, H. R., (1997). Effects of maternal nutrition on hatchability. Poult. Sci., 76: الملخص العربى تأثير إضافت البيىتيه على أداء الدجاج الفيىمى المتقدم فى العمر وأداء محمد أحمد على عبد المجيد سيد أحمد محمد شعبان معهد بحىث اإلوتاج الحيىاوي مركز البحىث الزراعيت - الدقي - جيزة - مصر. الىسل. أسرخذ ػذد 240 دخاخح و 24 ديه سال ح ا ذخاج ا فيى ػ ش 52 أسثىع ف ذدشتح إ راج تيط ذج 12 أسثىع رحذيذ إ ىا يح ذحسي سثح ا فمس تإظافح ا ثيىذي ؼ يمح خالي ا شاح ا رأخشج إ راج ا ثيط و ذساسح ذأثيش ر ه ػ ا س. وصػد و ا ذخاخاخ وا ذيىن تا رساوي ػ 4 ؼا الخ غزائيح ىصػح ػ 6 ىشساخ. ذ ذىىي ػ يمح تياض أساسيح ذحرىي ع ذحرىي ػ 16,5 تشوذي خا و 2700 وي ى وا ىسي غالح ث ح/ود ػ ف )وؼ يمح و رشوي( و ا ذ ذىىي ػ يمح تادئ أساسيح ذحرىي ػ 18,5 تشوذي خا و 2814 وي ى وا ىسي غالح ث ح/ود ػ ف ) رغزيح ا س (. اسرخذ تشي ىس فيرا ي اخ وأ الذ ؼذ يح يضود 50 يىشوخشا تيىذي /ود ػ يمح. ذ ذىىي ثالثح ػالئك تياض ذدشيثيح اث ح ف ذىىي ها ؼ يمح ا ى رشوي في ا ػذا احرىائه ػ 325,5 162, يىشوخشا تيىذي /ود ػ يمح ػ ا رىا ي. ش د ا صفاخ ذحد ا ذساسح ذخاج ا ثياض ػذد ا ثيط وص ا ثيعح ور ح ا ثيط ا ؼ ف ا أوىي ؼا ذحىي ا غزاء و سة ا ى ا د ي ا ثىش وا ى ا د ي ا رأخش وا ىرا ويد ا س ي ح وا ىراويد ا سرثؼذج وص ا ىرىىخ ػ ذ ا فمس سثح ا خصىتح وا فمس د ي ا شى ثيعح س ه ا مششج د ي ا صفاس وحذج هاو سة أ ثيى ي وصفاس ولشش ج ا ثيعح. ش د ا صفاخ ذحد ا ذساسح س وص ا ىرىىخ ػ ذ ا فمس وص ا دس وا ضيادج ف وص ا دس وا ؼ ف ا أوىي و ؼا ذحىي ا غزاء و سثح ا فىق ور ه ػ ذ ػ ش 8 أساتيغ. أوظحد ا رائح أ إظافح ا ثيىذي ت ؼذي 325,5 يىشوخشا /ود ػ يمح ذخاج ا ثياض أػط أفع خحس ف إ راج ا ثيط وػذد ا ثيط وور ح ا ثيط و ؼا ا رحىي ا غزائ وأيعا أػ صيادج ف ؼا شى ا ثيعح ود ي صفاس ا ثيعح ووحذج هاو. أيعا أدي هزا ا سرىي ا ثيىذي إ ذحس ؼ ىي ف سثح ا فمس و سثح ا ىراويد ا س ي ح وص ا ىراويد ػ ذ ا فمس و ا أػط هزا ا سرىي ا خفاض ؼ ىي ف سثح ا فىق ا د ي ا ثىش و سثح ا فىق ا د ي ا رأخش و سثح ا ىراويد ا سرثؼذج وأيعا ذحس ؼ ىي ف وص ا دس و ؼا ذحىي ا غزاء س ػ ذ ػ ش 8 أساتيغ. و ا أوظحد رائح ا ذساسح أ سثح أ ثيى ي ا ثيعح و سثح ا مششج صادخ ؼ ىيا تإظافح ا ثيىذي ت ؼذي 162,75 أو 325,5 يىشوخشا /ود ػ يمح ذخاج ا ثياض ماس ح تا ؼا الخ األخشي تي ا ذرأثش سثح ا خصىتح و سثح صفاس ا ثيعح ذخاج ا ثياض. ذحد ظشوف ا ردشتح ا حا يح ي ى ا رىصيح ب إظافح 325,5 يىشوخشا تيىذي /ود ػ يمح ذخاج ا ثياض حيث أدي ر ه إ ذحس ظاهش أداء ا ذخاج ا ثياض و سثح ا فمس وصف اخ خىدج ا ثيط و سثح أ ثيى ي ا ثيط وصفاخ ا ى س. 908