Abstract
Eggs from a 37-wk-old broiler breeder flock were stored in plastic bags in the presence or absence of CO2 for 7 or 14 d at 12.8 or 23.9 C. Eggs were incubated at 37.5 C dry bulb temperature and 30.0 C wet bulb temperature. Albumen height was measured prior to incubation on a sample of eggs and early embryonic mortality was determined macroscopically after candling at 17 d. A second experiment using eggs from a 44-wk-old flock replicated Experiment 1 without incubation. Albumen height, albumen pH, and stored weight loss were determined. Early embryonic mortality and stored weight loss increased with temperature and length of storage. Eggs stored for 7 d in the presence of CO2 exhibited increased albumen height and numerically higher embryonic mortality than eggs stored in the absence of CO2 whereas eggs stored for 14 d in the presence of CO2 had decreased early embryonic mortality and numerically increased albumen height compared to their controls. The eggs stored at 23.9 C for 14 d exhibited the greatest weight loss and the highest early embryonic mortality. Neither temperature nor day of storage influenced albumen pH. Storage in CO2, however, resulted in a lower albumen pH.Temperature and CO2 appeared to have independent modes of action. The presence of CO2 may be beneficial in maintaining albumen quality and acid-base balance appropriate for embryo survival during storage periods of about 14 d but may be detrimental for shorter storage periods due to increased albumen quality, which may result in reduced vital gas exchange. Excessive weight loss associated with storage of eggs for 14 d at 23.9 C was detrimental to embryo survival.
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