Comparison of Three Temperatures for the Hatching Phase in the Artificial Incubation of Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Eggs

P González-Redondo,R Díaz-Merino

doi:10.1590/1516-635x1801057-062

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effects of three incubation temperatures during the hatching period on egg weight loss, hatchability, chick weight at hatching and length of the incubation period of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) under artificial incubation. One hundred and fifty eggs obtained from a red-legged partridge game farm were randomly allocated to three batches of 50 eggs each. Eggs were incubated at 37.8oC during the first 20 days, and subsequently at 37.0, 37.4 or 37.8oC until hatching. Fertility was 74.7% and a good hatching performance was obtained, characterized by 85.7% hatchability, 9.1% egg weight loss after 20 days of incubation, 13.8±0.1 g chick weight at hatching, and 23.2±0.1 days incubation length. Hatchability, egg weight loss after 20 days of incubation, and length of the incubation period were not affected by incubation temperature during the hatching period. However, hatching synchrony improved when the incubation temperature was increased from 37.0 to 37.8°C (p<0.05). Thus, hatching distribution became very leptokurtic and very positively skewed with the increase in incubation temperature during the hatching phase. In conclusion, higher hatching synchrony can be achieved in A. rufa when setting temperatures within the range 37.0 to 37.8oC to incubate eggs during the hatching period. Consequently, incubation temperature management during the hatching phase may have a direct impact on hatching synchrony and hatchling management.

Highlights

In order to provide birds to restock hunting reserves, the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is reared in several Mediterranean countries, which has led to a welldeveloped subsector of game farms (Sánchez García-Abad et al, 2009; González-Redondo et al, 2010)
The hatching eggs used in this trial were obtained from a red-legged partridge game farm located in Santa Cruz
The mean values of fertility, hatchability of eggs set, and hatchability of fertile eggs found in this trial were within the ranges described in literature for A. rufa under farming conditions (50.2 to 89.7%, 30.6 to 86.4% and 57.5 to 91.6%, respectively; Bagliacca et al, 1988; Paci et al, 1992; González-Redondo, 2006, 2010; Mourão et al, 2010; Gómez-de-Travecedo et al, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c)

Summary

Introduction

In order to provide birds to restock hunting reserves, the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is reared in several Mediterranean countries (mainly Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy), which has led to a welldeveloped subsector of game farms (Sánchez García-Abad et al, 2009; González-Redondo et al, 2010). Incubation temperature strongly influences hatchability and the livability of chicks. In this regard, literature studies recommend incubating red-legged partridge eggs at temperatures ranging from 37.7 to 38.0oC during the first 20-21 d of incubation, and subsequently transferring them to a hatcher, where temperature is lowered between 0.2-0.3 and 1oC and set at 37.2 to 37.5oC (Llauradó, 1987; Cancho, 1991; Setién, 1991; Saperas, 1992; García-Martín & Dalmau, 2003), until hatching occurs on day 23-24 (González-Redondo et al, 2012).

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Conclusion