Effect of in Ova Injection with Nano-copper in Productive Performance of Japanese Quail Exposed to Pathological and Environmental Challenges

MOHAMMED KHALIL IBRAHIM AL-SAEEDI, HASHIM HADI AL-JEBORY* AND MAJEED AJAFAR
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Iraq
*(e-mail: hashimhadi@agre.uoqasim.edu.iq; Mobile: 78317 30046)
(Received: February 25, 2023; Accepted: March 27, 2023)

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of nano-copper on pathogenic bacteria in vivo, 400 fertilized eggs of quail were
used; divided into four groups (T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄) each group of 100 eggs was injected with E. coli bacteria (1 m × 10^-7). Further, groups T₂, T₃ and T₄ were injected with copper nanoparticles at concentrations of 14, 16 and 18 ppm, respectively. Each group was exposed to 38 ⁰C in hatcher to receive 30 chicks from the hatched eggs. Significant increase was observed in T₁ for the percentage of embryo mortality and total mortality, in group T4 for the rate of weight gain and feed conversion efficiency, and in group T3 for the percentage of hatching, chick weight at hatching and total live body weight. The rate at which feed was
consumed was also significantly higher in T₄.
Key words : E. coli, Japanese quail, injection, hatching eggs, nano-copper