A. Abudabos
Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
The effect of genetic strain (Ross 308; Cobb 500) and parent flock age (Ross at 32 and 36 weeks; Cobb at 26 and 44 weeks of age) on hatchability, fertile hatchability, Egg Weight Loss (EWL) and egg break out analysis were examined. At each flock age, 300 eggs from each treatment group were incubated. Thirty eggs from each treatment group were labeled individually for the measurements of Egg Weight Loss (EWL) and the newly hatched chicks from all groups were weighed individually. All the eggs that failed to hatch were examined for fertility and determine the embryo death cause. Data were analyzed by ANOVA for a randomized complete block design, using GLM procedure of SAS. Hatchability and fertile hatchability were affected by age of the breeder flock. Egg and chick weight were influenced by hen age (p<0.001), the older the hen the heavier the egg. Total egg weight loss from 1-19 d was significantly higher as percent for Cobb strain (p<0.001). Mid death of embryos as well as pips percentages were associated with eggs from older hens (p<0.01). In summary, hatching eggs produced by older broiler breeders have been shown to be larger in size and they also exhibit a reduced fertility. It is evident that egg management and incubation procedures need to be altered, as current recommended egg management and incubation procedures are not adjusted for breeder age.
PDF References
How to cite this article
A. Abudabos, 2010. The Effect of Broiler Breeder Strain and Parent Flock Age on Hatchability and Fertile Hatchability. International Journal of Poultry Science, 9: 231-235.
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2010.231.235
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2010.231.235
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2010.231.235
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2010.231.235
REFERENCES
- Brommer, J.E. and K. Rattiste, 2008. Hidden reproductive conflict between mates in a wild bird population. Evolution, 62: 2326-2333.
PubMed - Christensen, V.L., M.J. Wineland, D.T. Ort and K.M. Mann, 2005. Eggshell conductance and incubator ventilation as factors in embryo survival and poult quality. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 4: 818-826.
CrossRefDirect Link - Creel, L.H., D. Maurice, W.C. Bridges and L.W. Grimes, 1998. A model to describe and predict post-peak changes in broiler hatchability. J. Applied Poult. Res., 7: 85-89.
Direct Link - Deeming, D.C. and J.H. van Middelkoop, 1999. Effect of strain and flock age on fertility and early embryonic mortality of broiler breeder eggs. Br. Poult. Sci., 40: 22-23.
PubMedDirect Link - Dikmen, B.Y. and U. Sahan, 2007. Correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders. Br. Poult. Sci., 48: 98-103.
PubMed - Elibol, O. and J. Braket, 2003. Effect of frequency of turning from three to eleven days of incubation on hatchability of broiler hatching eggs. Poult. Sci., 82: 357-359.
CrossRefDirect Link - French, N.A., 1997. Modeling incubation temperature: The effects of incubation design, embryonic development and egg size. Poult. Sci., 76: 124-133.
Direct Link - Hamidu, J.A., G.M. Fasenko, J.J.R. Feddes, E.E. O'Dea, C.A. Ouellette, M.J. Wineland and V.L. Christensen, 2007. The effect of broiler breeder genetic strain and parent flock age on eggshell conductance and embryonic metabolism. Poult. Sci., 86: 2420-2432.
CrossRefDirect Link - Heier, B.T. and J. Jarp, 2001. An epidemiological study of the hatchability in broiler breeder flocks. Poult. Sci., 80: 1132-1138.
CrossRefDirect Link - Joseph, N.S. and E.T. Moran Jr., 2005. Effect of age and post emergent holding in the hatcher on broiler performance and further processing yield. J. Applied Poult. Res., 14: 512-520.
Direct Link - Joseph, N.S. and E.T. Moran Jr., 2005. Characteristics of eggs, embryos and chicks from broiler breeder hens selected for growth or meat yield. J. Applied Poult. Res., 14: 275-280.
Direct Link - Kirk, S., G.C. Emmans, R. McDonald and D. Arnot, 1980. Factors affecting the hatchability of eggs from broiler breeders. Br. Poult. Sci., 21: 37-53.
Direct Link - Lapao, C., L.T. Gama and M.C. Soares, 1999. Effects of broiler breeder age and length of egg storage on albumen characteristics and hatchability. Poult. Sci., 78: 640-645.
Direct Link - Lourens, A., R. Molenaar, H. van den Brand, M.J.W. Heetkamp, R. Meijerhof and B. Kemp, 2006. Effect of egg size on heat production and the transition of energy from egg to hatchling. Poult. Sci., 85: 770-776.
CrossRefDirect Link - North, M.O. and D.D. Bell, 1990. Commercial Chicken Production Manual. 4th Edn., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, USA.
Direct Link - Pedroso, A.A., M.A. Andrade, M.B. Cafe, N.S.M. Leandro, J.F.M. Menten and J.H. Stringhini, 2005. Fertility and hatchability of eggs laid in the pullet-to-breeder transition period and in the initial production period. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 90: 355-364.
PubMed - Reis, L.H., L.T. Gama and M.C. Soares, 1997. Effects of short storage conditions and broiler breeder age on hatchability, hatching time and chick weights. Poult. Sci., 76: 1459-1466.
CrossRefDirect Link - Roque, L. and M.C. Soares, 1994. Effects of eggshell quality and broiler breeder age on hatchability. Poult. Sci., 73: 1838-1845.
Direct Link - Siegel, P.B., 1965. Genetics of behavior: Selection for mating ability in chickens. Genetics, 52: 1269-1277.
PubMed - Suarez, M.E., H.R. Wilson, F.B. Mather, C.J. Wilcox and B.N. McPherson, 1997. Effect of strain and age of the broiler breeder female on incubation time and chick weight. Poult. Sci., 76: 1029-1036.
Direct Link - Tona, K., O. Onagbesan, B. de Ketelaere, E. Decupere and V. Bruggeman, 2004. Effect of age of broiler breeders and egg storage on egg quality, hatchability, chick quality, chick weight and chick post hatch growth to forty-two days. J. Applied Poult. Res., 13: 10-18.
Direct Link - Tona, K., V. Bruggeman, O. Onagbesan, F. Bamelis, M. Gbeassor, K. Mertens and E. Decuypere, 2005. Day-old chick quality: Relationship to hatching egg quality, adequate incubation practice and prediction of broiler performance. Avian Poult. Biol. Rev., 16: 109-119.
CrossRef - Vieira, S.L. and T. Mora Junior, 1998. Eggs and chicks from broiler breeders of extremely different age. J. Applied Poult. Res., 7: 372-376.
CrossRefDirect Link - Wilson, H.R., 1991. Interrelationships of egg size, chick size, posthatching growth and hatchability. World's Poult. Sci. J., 47: 5-20.
CrossRefDirect Link - Wilson, H.R., 1997. Effects of maternal nutrition on hatchability. Poult. Sci., 76: 134-143.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link