Broiler Breeders Fed Diets Supplemented with Conventional or Lipid Matrix Microencapsulated Trace Minerals at Standard or High Levels: Part II—Influence on Hatching Egg Quality^†

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Respected authors

All opinion was emitted with all respect to the efforts of the authors for the preparation of the experiment and its report

General

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2 levels (high and normal) of dietary inclusion of inorganic minerals supplied as protected microencapsulated or free premix forms on internal and external quality and mineral composition of broiler breeder eggs. However, concern about the next points are present:

1) Reference the methodologies adopted; 2) Improve the discussion with information from other authors, providing support for the statements presented; 3) Improve completion by focusing on the results obtained. 4) Pay attention to the journal's rules.

Specific comments

P1L17: P<0.05 replace with p < 0.05 - The “P” should be lowercase and italic. Also check this throughout the manuscript.

P1L19: (.224 mm vs. .247 mm... – (0.224 mm vs. 0.247mm... - Please include the zero before the ( . ). Also check this throughout the manuscript.

P2L83: The collections in weeks 28, 34, 38, 41, 49 and 55 did not have a regular interval. Could you explain what led to the collections being made in these weeks and why a regular interval was not respected for the collections?

P3L131: Results and Discussion

Interesting discussion, but lack of citations to contribute information. Where are the research/articles/publications developed previously that give credibility to the statements presented?

P4L223: Conclusions

Focus conclusions on the data obtained in the work, not on the marketing of the product/technology used.

Author Response

Please find comments attached below 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript describes an investigation of microencapsulated trace minerals on hatching egg qualtity. The topic is of interest and importance to improving the hatchability of broiler breeder eggs. The manuscript is well written and provides the necessary and expected information throughout. Although replication is low (i.e. only 3), the factorial arrangement of treatments and corresponding appropriate analysis separate important treatment effects. Thereafter, the conclusions are consistent with the Results and Discussion and address the main objectives of the trial. All the of tables appear to be necessary and understandable.

Author Response

Thank you for your comments, I have added better references to the methodologies used

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors made significant revisions which contributed greatly to improving the work.