What if we can enrich the embryo already with a rapidly available energy source to better secure hatching and the first days of life? This is possible by feeding the broiler breeder hen with a source of creatine.Creatine might ring a bell to many, as taking creatine as a supplement is very popular among athletes to gain muscle, enhance strength and improve exercise performance. Creatine gives muscle cells the capacity to produce more energy by recycling energy poor ADP back to ATP. Because creatine is found in muscle tissue, it is also present in feed ingredients that are based on animal protein. However, concentrations in animal proteins are rather low and highly variable, possibly due to variable raw material quality and the harsh processing conditions in which creatine is not stable1. In addition, animal derived proteins are not used that often in animal diets, as most poultry feed formulations are based on vegetable proteins and grains.
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