respectively (P < 0.05).
Fertility rate and hatchability treatments, which were lower than LP-SEN, showing
were not affected by dietary Cu level (P > 0.05). The
proportion of live embryos that hatched of 13.71 mg/
kg Cu group was the greatest and greater than that of
8.71, 43.71 and 83.71 mg/kg Cu groups respectively (P
< 0.05). It was concluded that excess dietary Cu can
influence egg quality and survival of embryos. The
optimal dietary Cu of Chinese Yellow broiler breeders
during egg-laying period is 13.71 mg/kg.
Key Words: copper (Cu), Chinese Yellow broiler
breeder hens, hatching performance
154 Effect of substitution of ZnO by organic acids,
medium chain fatty acids monoglycerides and
essential oils in high or low protein diets in pig-
lets. L. Miranda1, A. Fuentetaja2, J. Gálvez,
J. Lozano, P. Medel4, 1UNIVERSIDAD
CATÓLICA SANTA TERESA DE JESÚS
DE ÁVILA, ÁVILA, Spain, 2COPESE,
Coca, Segovia, Spain, 23F FEED AND
FOOD S.L., ÁVILA, Castilla y Leon, Spain,
4
INNOVABIOTICS, S.L., Getafe, Spain
A total of 480 piglets Durocx(Landrace*Large_
White), 50/50% castrated males/females, were used
to evaluate the effect of protein (CP) level and the
replacement of zinc oxide (ZnO) by a combination
of organic acids (OA), short and medium chain fatty
acids monoglycerides (SMCFA-MG), and essen-
tial oils (EA), on productivity and health. There
were four treatments: 1)High protein (HP-18.6%)
with 3,000ppmZnO (HP-ZnO), 2)HP with OA,
SMCFA-MG and EA (HP-SENES), 3)Low protein
(LP-16.8%) with OA and SMCFA-MG (LP-SEN),
4)LP-SENES. There were 4 replicates of 30 piglets/
treatment. Piglets were weaned at 28d, ate a com-
mon diet for 8d, and then fed the experimental diets
till 72d. Weight and consumption were analyzed by
replicate at 36, 57 and 72d. Feed was presented in
pellets and ad-libitum. Data were analyzed through
an ANOVA; model included bodyweight at 36d as a
covariate, and treatment as main effect. HP piglets
showed highest weights at 57 and 72d (14.48, 15.59,
13.66 and 14.03kg at 57d, and 22.63, 22.46, 20.21
and 20.90kg at 72d for T1-T4 respectively, P=0.061
and P=0.003). For the whole period, HP piglets grew
similarly, and more than LP-SEN piglets, showing
the LP-SENES an intermediate value (436, 431, 369
and 388g/d for T1-T4, respectively, P=0.003). Also,
HP-ZnO piglets ate more than LP piglets, showing the
HP-SENEN ones an intermediate value (594, 569, 525
and 532g/d for T1-T4, respectively, P=0.027). There
were no differences in feed conversion between HP
the LP-SENES an intermediate value (1,362, 1,319,
1,424 and 1,369g/g for T1-T4, respectively, P=0.531).
There was no effect on mortality (0.8, 0.4, 0.6 and
0.6% for T1-T4, respectively, P=0.877). It is concluded
that: the decrease of protein reduced the productiv-
ity; SENES maintained similar performances to ZnO
in HP diets; EO addition to OA and SMCFA-MG
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/96/suppl_3/289/5235172 by Iowa State University user on 06 February 2019
improved productivity in LP diets.
Key Words: piglets, non-antibiotic alternatives
155 
Effects of maternal and dietary vitamin A level
on growth performance, meat quality and immune
function of broiler offsping. Y. Wang1, S. Jiang2,
1
The Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition
and Feed Science (South China) of Ministry
of Agriculture; Institute of Animal Science,
Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Guangzhou 510640, Guangzhou, Guangdong,
China (People’s Republic), 2State Key
Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding,
Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed
Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture,
Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy
of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong,
China (People’s Republic)
To evaluate effects of maternal and dietary vitamin
A  level on growth performance, meat quality and
immune function of offspring, breeder broilers were
fed up with basal diet supplemented with 0, 5400,
10800 and 21600 IU/kg VA for 9  wk, then the off-
spring hatched in each group were fed with basal diet
supplemented with 0 or 5,000 IU/kg VA for 63  days.
Results showed that: (1) Administration of VA in diet
for offspring improved BW, ADG and ADFI, as well as
reduced F/G and mortality of offspring broilers, while
maternal VA did not significantly affect the growth per-
formance and mortality of offspring. (2) The pH value
on breast muscle 24h postmortem increased with diet-
ary VA supplementation of maternal at the levels of
21,600 IU/kg compared to 0 and 5,400 IU/kg VA sup-
plementation in offspring diet significantly increased
breast muscle shear force, pH value 24h postmortem,
decreased meat colour L* and b* value 45min post-
mortem, and decreased drip loss 24h postmortem. (3)
Maternal VA had no significant influence on spleen,
thymus and bursa of fabricius indexes in offspring
and 21,600 IU/kg VA for breeders increased the liver
index in offspring. Supplemental VA in offspring diet
increased the bursa of fabricius and liver indexes. (4)
Dietary of 5,400 and 21,600 IU/kg VA for breeders
significantly decreased mRNA expressionof IFN-γ
J. Anim. Sci Vol. 96, Suppl. S3 289