Identifier

etd-04162009-155621

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Animal Science (Animal, Dairy, and Poultry Sciences)

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Due to necessary storage of hatching eggs in commercial hatcheries, the embryo is being regressed. End of lay broiler breeder eggs have the poorest hatchability and are most affected by pre incubation storage. Warming these eggs is the only way the embryo can develop. The objective of this study was to study the effects of daily warming of end of lay broiler breeder hatching eggs during the storage period on embryo mortality and hatchability. Six trials were conducted, three trials warmed for three of the four day storage period and three trials warmed for five of the six days storage period. There were six warming treatments for each trial; 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes daily. All eggs were from Hubbard Classic broiler breeders 50-58 weeks of age. Hatch time was recorded for trials 3 and 6. Two hundred and eighty eight randomly selected males were used in trial 5 to study the effects of daily warming on chick growth. They were fed a starter broiler diet and grown for 13 days in a Petersime starter battery. In all hatchability trials percent fertility, percent fertile hatchability, percent total hatchability, percent early dead, percent mid-dead, percent late dead, percent pips, and percent total embryonic mortality was not affected (P>0.05) by any of the daily warming treatments. Hatch time and chick growth were not affected by any of the daily warming treatments. Eggs could be warmed for as much as 150 minutes daily during storage without affecting hatchability which contradicts to management procedures. These results suggest that it is unnecessary for refrigerated trucks to transport eggs from the farm to the hatchery.

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Ingram, Dennis R.

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1608

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