INFLUENCE OF WEIGHT OF MEAT-TYPE HYBRID HATCHING EGGS ON INCUBATION RESULTS

Abstract

The aim of study was to examine the values of the incubation parameters(weight loss, fertilization, hatchability of placed and fertilized eggs, total, early,middle and late embryonic mortality) of eggs of different weights in brolier hybridCobb 500. In total, 600 eggs were divided into four equal groups (n = 150 each)according to their weight: 57.5-62.5 g (S); 62.6-67.5 g (M); 67.6-72.5 g (L) and 72.6-77.50 g (XL). Values of incubation parameters were determined and statisticallyprocessed by standard methods. The weight of eggs significantly influenced the lossof egg weight during incubation (p<0.05), with this loss being higher in smaller eggs(group S 11.10% and group M 11.40%) compared to larger eggs (group L 10.42%and group XL 10.31%). Hatchability of all eggs in groups S, M, L and XL was 76.0;75.3; 78.7 and 66.0%, respectively, and for fertilized it was 82.0; 81.3; 82.5 and71.7%, respectively, with no significant difference (p>0.05). The weight of eggs didnot significantly affected the difference in embryo mortality values, although in theXL egg group a higher value of total, early and late mortality was found, comparedto other groups. The results of this study indicate lower hatchability and highermortality of embryos in eggs of extremely large weight, compared to other groups,which indicates that special attention should be given to the selection of hatchingeggs in terms of their weight.