Abstract
Feeding embryos with exogenous feed components prior to hatching has been reported to positively improved the growth and immune response in poultry. This study investigated the effects of in ovo administration of aqueous extracts of garlic, oyster mushroom and their combination on hatching traits and post-hatch performance of broiler chickens. A total of 230 broiler hatching eggs were sorted and incubated. On candling, 200 (85.11 % fertility) fertile eggs were obtained and distributed into five treatments: control, in ovo injection of garlic, oyster mushroom, combination of garlic and oyster mushroom, and de-ionized water (SHAM) at 0.1 ml.egg-1 in each treatment. In ovo injection was done on 18th day of incubation. Data collected were subjected to One-Way Analysis of Variance. Chick weight was the highest (P < 0.05) in birds hatched from eggs injected with aqueous extracts of garlic (50.91 g per chick). The highest proportions (P < 0.05) of heart (0.65 %) and spleen (0.18 %) were observed in birds from eggs injected with oyster mushroom and the combination of garlic and oyster mushroom, respectively. Significantly highest lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05) were found in birds from eggs injected with aqueous extracts of garlic, and the combination of garlic and oyster mushroom. The best (P < 0.05) feed conversion rate (FCR) (1.82) was recorded in birds from eggs on in ovo injection of aqueous extract of oyster mushroom. The study suggests that in ovo injection of aqueous extracts of garlic and oyster mushroom at 0.1 ml per egg can enhance chick weight, heart, spleen functions and overall growth performance in broiler chickens.