Why is supplementation with vitamin E so important for birds?

Vitamins

Vitamins for Birds

Essential for All Life Functions

Vitamins are organic substances essential for the normal course of life processes and physiological functions such as development, growth, maintenance, and reproduction. They are necessary for maintaining health and performance and must be supplied to the body. There are many vitamins required for optimal health in birds, including vitamin E, which fulfills several critical functions.

Its key role is to protect cells from oxidative damage—it supports the protection of cell membranes and the detoxification of metabolic byproducts. Vitamin E is necessary for the regulation of heme biosynthesis and plays a specific role in the essential transport of amino acids. It is also involved in cellular respiration and thus plays a very important role in energy metabolism. Additionally, vitamin E promotes antibody production and positively influences the immune status of the organism.

Although vitamin E serves a wide range of functions in the body, it is primarily crucial for the fertility of animals. It has been shown to improve fertility (especially sperm quality in males and egg viability in females) and increase the survival rate of embryos as well as the vitality of hatched chicks. A deficiency in vitamin E leads to reduced fertility, libido, and hatchability. Lastly, a lack of vitamin E particularly affects muscle and heart function.

Vitamin E

Effects on Male Fertility Functions in Birds

Male fertility is primarily associated with semen and sperm quality, including semen volume, sperm concentration, viability, motility, and fertilization capability. Several studies have demonstrated the link between vitamin E deficiency and impaired male reproductive functions in birds. A deficiency or long-term omission of vitamin E causes abnormal spermatogenesis and negatively affects sperm quality and motility. Supplementation with vitamin E, on the other hand, can significantly improve sperm quality by preventing the breakdown of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can cause oxidative damage.

Fertility

Effect of Vitamin E on Female Reproductive Functions in Birds

The most important factors determining healthy offspring are egg quality, egg weight, components of the yolk and albumin, as well as fertility and hatchability of the eggs. The fertility functions of females, like those of males, are crucial for the successful production of healthy offspring.

The nutrients needed for embryonic development are mainly derived from the yolk and albumin stored in the eggs. An egg contains significant amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and trace elements. These can be increased or decreased by changing the composition of the feed. When birds are fed with a diet high in vitamin E, egg quality significantly improves.

Many studies show that vitamin E supplementation increases egg weight and significantly protects the fertility and hatchability of eggs. Additionally, studies have shown that the antioxidant effect of vitamin E can reduce the adverse effects of various toxic compounds in the feed.

Finally, it was found that supplementing feed with vitamin E is necessary to maintain female fertility. As a result, birds that received additional vitamin E showed higher fertility.

To improve bird fertility and support general health during breeding, NEKTON has developed a special supplement called NEKTON-Breed-Star. NEKTON Breed-Star compensates for the vitamin E deficiency in the feed and covers the animals’ need for this vital nutrient. It also contains all essential vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and trace elements that support metabolic processes in the bird’s body, thereby strengthening the bird’s immune system and enhancing performance.