Effects of Storage Duration on Spread of Hatch, Chick Quality and Post-Hatch Performances in Tropical Climate

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-incubation egg storage duration on hatching traits and Sasso broilers post-hatch performances in tropical conditions. A total of 900 hatching eggs were individually numbered, weighed and stored for 3 d, 7 d or for 15 d in a climate-controlled room of 16°C and 75 % of relative humidity. After storage period, eggs were reweighed and divided into 5 replications of 60 eggs each. Then, eggs were incubated in the incubator at a temperature of 37.7◦C, relative humidity of 55 %, and turning once an hour until 18 d of incubation. At d 18 of incubation, the eggs were candled, and fertile eggs were transferred from the turning trays to the hatching baskets. During the last 3 d of incubation, the transferred eggs were checked individually every 3 h for hatching events and hatchability. After pull out at d 21.5, chicks were raised to 12-Wk-old of age for post-hatch growth measurements. The results showed that the egg weight loss increased with storage duration (p= 0.0036). The egg weight at setting and day old chick weight were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in 3 d stored eggs compared to 7 d and 15 d stored eggs. Hatchability significantly decreased (p<0.0001) with egg storage duration while, embryonic mortality increased (p<0.0001) with egg storage duration. Eggs stored for 3 d and for 7 d attained the different hatching stadia at significantly (p < 0.0001) earlier time points compared to 15 d stored eggs. The chicks weight up to 12 week, feed intake and weight gain were significantly higher (p<0.05) in 3 d stored eggs group compared to 15 d stored eggs group. It can be concluded that Sasso broiler breeders eggs should not be stored more than 7 d in tropical conditions.