Omega-3 fatty acids shown to improve skeletal development and egg production in broiler breeds

Supplementing omega-3 fatty acids in poultry can help benefit immunity, skeletal and gastrointestinal development and fertility in broiler breeds. 

Increased egg production

Egg yolk is a vital reservoir of energy and essential fatty acids, including omega-3s, for the developing embryo. Research has reported a decline in late-stage embryonic mortality in fertile eggs from fish oil-enriched diets. This could be due to the improved incubation parameters as a result of the availability of the essential fatty acids. In effect, an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids through dietary supplementation and deposition in the yolk is pivotal in the development of metabolic and immune functions with long-term implications on susceptibility to metabolic disorders in poultry.

The enrichment in eggs is proportional to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the poultry diet. It can be an extremely novel nutritional strategy for enhancing their supply of human food. By fortifying livestock feed with fish oil or algae, the level of DHA can be increased by 20-fold in fish, 7-fold in chicken, and 3 to 6-fold in eggs.

Omega-3 fatty acids fed to breeder hens is taken up in the yolk and transferred to the developing embryo, where it is incorporated for optimal cell, tissue, and organ development. In particular, DHA imparts unique properties on cell membranes, which contribute to membrane plasticity, fluidity, and permeability that can boost the immune response in chicks. 

Chicks newly hatched from eggs enriched with DHA will benefit from reduced proinflammatory eicosanoids, enhanced bone mineralisation, and modulation of the digestive tract’s morphological structure, which will prevent pathogenic microbial colonisation and infection. 

Semen quality 

Poultry semen is characterised by high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly DHA, which provide fluidity and structural integrity of the sperm cell membrane. Researchers have pointed out that supplementing the diet of broiler breed roosters increases semen concentration and the percentage of viable cells that are normal. 

During cryopreservation, which is a process involving freezing for purposes of preservation, fertility and quality of semen can be affected, and fatty acids are known to provide protection. 

Skeletal development 

Poor skeletal health and lameness in breeder hens is a major welfare and economic problem with a negative perception of poultry production worldwide.

Researchers at Bristol University, UK, reported a drop of more than 35% in bone breakage rates in free-range laying hens at weeks 50 and 62 when supplemented with Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Omega 3 fatty acids in fertility:

EPA and DHA are the key fatty acids involved in fertility, specifically in altering the production of prostaglandin in favour of progesterone. Prostaglandin is the hormone responsible for the regression of the corpus leteum, which produces progesterone, the hormone required for coordinating the supply of nutrients for embryo development and pregnancy maintenance. Enhanced egg quality is also critical in embryo transfer programmes in animal breeding.