effect of fennel extract and vitamin d3 on hatchability and chick quality characteristics in post molt broiler breeder

a 3×3 factorial arrangements experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fennel extract and vitamin d3 on performance, hatchability, chick quality characteristics and immunity. this experiment was done with using 360 ross 308 broiler breeders after molting (84 - 92 weeks) in a completely randomized design with three levels (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg of diet) of fennel extract and three levels (0, 3500 and 4200 iu/kg of diet) of vitamin d3. fennel extract supplementation of broiler breeder diet decreased initial embryonic mortality in the whole experiment of period. gender of chickens (male percent), relative chick weight was significantly affected by vitamind3. in addition, vitamin d3 supplementation in diet caused an increase in newcastle antibody titer.