Effect of Pre-Storage Heating and Period of Storage on Hatchability Traits of Dokki-4 Eggs

This study investigated the effects of pre-storage heating and storage period of hatching eggs on hatchability traits and chick quality of Dokki-4 (Egyptian local strain of chickens) laying hens. A total of 3600 eggs were collected from 46-week-old laying hens. Eggs were distributed in a 3x4 factorial arrangement, with three storage times (4, 8 and 12 days at 18°C and 75% RH) and four heat treatments prior to storage (0, 3, 6 and 9 hours at 37.5°C and 56% RH). Eggs were distributed to twelve treatments of 20 replicates. After storage, eggs were incubated under the normal conditions of incubation at the same time. The results showed that the long storage period increased egg weight loss. Hatchability and chick quality results from 8-12 days stored eggs were lower than eggs stored for 4 days. The 6-hour pre-storage heating system substantially improved egg hatchability and chick quality relative to non-heated or 9-hour heating. Important interactions were observed during pre-storage heating × egg storage time for loss in egg weight, hatchability of total and fertile eggs, embryonic mortality and chick quality. When eggs were stored for more than four days, pre-storage heating of hatching eggs for six hours improved hatchability and chick quality compared to unheated eggs or heated for 9 hours. Conclusively, pre-storage heat treatment beneficially affects hatchability traits and chick quality, especially when hatching eggs are stored for long periods.

Beta alanine effects immediately pre- and post hatch on chick quality, carcass yield and meat quality in broilers

First, this study aimed to evaluate the effects on hatchability of in ovo supplementation of beta alanine (βA). Second, it assessed the effects on performance, meat quality and serum constituents of broiler chickens of βA injection in ovo and of supplementation with βA in feed for the first seven days after hatching. For this purpose, 960 fertilized broiler chicken eggs were distributed to hatchery trays in four treatment groups with six replicates on day 17 of incubation. The treatment groups consisted of eggs that were not injected (T1; negative control), injected with sterile solution with 0.9% salt (T2; positive control), injected with in ovo 1% βA solution (T3), and not injected, but with chicks were fed 1% βA for the first seven days after hatching (T4). Upon hatching, chicks from T1, T2, and T3 were fed commercial starter feed. All treatments were assessed with six replicates of 28 birds (14 females and 14 males) throughout the grow-out period. As a result of this study, T3 increased hatchability, yolk-free hatching weight and chick quality, and decreased yolk weight and feed access time at hatch. Both T3 and T4 improved carcass yield and meat quality, and T3 increased serum total antioxidant status at 42 days afer hatching. The results demonstrated that in ovo βA feeding improved hatching characteristics, and βA administration in ovo or in feed improved carcass yield and meat quality without affecting growth performance.

Ross 308 Etlik Piliçlerde Damızlık Yaşının Kuluçka Sonuçları ve Civciv Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi

The present study was planned to determine the effect of flock age on hatching results and chick quality in Ross 308 broiler parents. For this purpose, the eggs of three different flock age (30, 47, and 59 weeks of age) were used. A total of 450 eggs (50 × 3 for each group), including 150 eggs from each age group, were placed in the incubator as a coincidence. The number of alive chicks after hatching was determined and these chicks were classified into three quality groups as low quality, high quality, and discarded chicks. Non-hatched eggs were broken in order to control the fertility and determine the embryonic deaths. At the end of the study, the effect of the flock age on fertility rate (%), hatchability (%) and chick quality was found to be significant. However, the effect of flock age on hatchablity of fertile eggs and early, mid, and late-period embryo deaths were found to be insignificant. It was found that eggs obtained from the young breeders were higher in terms of fertility rate and hatchability than eggs obtained from old breeders. The chicks obtained from young breeders' eggs were determined as 33.60% high quality, 48.10% low quality, and 18.30% discarded chicks. These rates were 32.70%, 43.40%, and 23.90% in chicks obtained from middle-aged breeders, respectively, 56.10%, 36.40%, and 7.50% in chicks obtained from the old breeders. As a result, it was determined that there was a decrease in the hatching results in parallel with the increase in breeding age, but the chick quality increased.