The Effects of in Ovo Injection Oil-Extracted Propolis on Growth Performance and Immune Status of Broilers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of in-ovo injection of oil-extracted propolis on the growth performance and immune status of broiler chicks (Ross 308) after hatching. A total of 324 fresh hatching eggs were randomly distributed into six treatment groups of 54 eggs per treatment with three replicates of 18 eggs each. Treatments included sham as negative control (without injection), positive control with sterile water injection, and in ovo injection 4 levels (150, 300, 600 and 1200 ppm) of oil- extracted propolis solution prepared in 60 ml of sterile water, one ml into site of the embryo in sac of amniotic fluid into eggs at the 15th day of incubation. The results showed that propolis extract injected into eggs at day 15 of incubation did not show effect on hatchability, body weight and weight of the hatched chicks hatched egg weight (p>0.05). But in eggs, which injected 1200 ppm of oil-extracted propolis, the ratio of the weight of hatched chicks to egg weight was more numerically than the control group. Ovo injection levels of oil-extracted propolis were no significant on feed intake, body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio in total rearing periods among treatments. The results obtained of the antibodies produced by the injection of SRBC at 28 days showed that groups receiving levels 300, 600 and 1200 ppm oil-extracted propolis and positive control had a tendency to decrease in antibodies produced in compared with the negative control group (P