Effect of heating hatching eggs before or during storage on the alleviation of the negative effect of prolonged storage periods on hatchability [electronic resouce].

Includes references.

The present study was carried out to test whether heating hatching eggs before or during storage, which stored for long periods, would improve the hatchability traits. A total number of 2700 hatching eggs were collected from broiler breeders (Arbor Acres) grandparents D-line flock at 29-31week-old. Eggs were transported to the hatchery in three groups (900 eggs each) according to the storage periods for 7, 14 and 21 days. All eggs were stored at 17° C and 75 % RH. All eggs in each group were weighed and numbered individually and subdivided into three subgroups according to pre-incubation heating treatment as: non heating, heating for 6 hours before storage and 2 hours heating each three days during storage period (HDS). The heating treatment was at temperature of 37.5° C and 55 % RH. The results show that the longer storage period had negative effects on egg weight, egg shell thickness, yolk height, yolk index, albumen weight and albumen height. Also, higher percentage of early, late and total embryonic mortality; piped life and culled hatch chicks were associated with longer egg storage period. Moreover, the apparent fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs and hatchability of total eggs were significantly lowered in eggs stored for longer period. Heating egg Continuously for 6 hours before storage had significantly higher egg weight loss percentage during storage and lower egg weight loss percentage after 18 days of incubation as compared to those non-heated or HDS treatment. Key Words: Egg Storage, Breeder, Pre-Incubation heating and Hatchability.

Summary in Arabic.

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