Abstract
The factors involved in poultry egg incubation include breeder hen age, which may influence both the external and internal quality of eggs. In this context, this study sought to determine incubation yield among eggs from breeder hens at three ages. A total of 1,728 eggs were obtained from Cobb broiler breeders at three ages (26 weeks, 32 weeks, and 53 weeks) and incubated. At the end of the incubation process, eclosion, hatchability, the percentage of infertile eggs, the time of embryo mortality, and chick weight were all analyzed according to breeder hen age. Analysis of variance was applied to the results, and egg fertility was found to be associated with breeder age, since lower rates of eclosion were found in eggs from younger broiler breeders. Chick weight was also found to be influenced by breeder age, since eggs from older broiler breeders hatched into heavier chicks. However, neither mortality nor hatchability were found to be affected by breeder hen age.
Highlights
Dentre os fatores relacionados para o sucesso da incubação está a idade da matriz, pois este pode influenciar na qualidade interna e externa do ovo
Eggs laid by older broiler breeders produce heavier chicks and tend to exhibit later eclosion relative to eggs laid by young breeders (LIMA et al, 2001)
This study found that eggs from 32-week-old to 53-week-old breeders did not differ significantly in rates of eclosion or hatchability; several other researchers (ELIBOL & BRAKE, 2002; ZACARIA et al, 2005) have concluded that eggs from middle-aged breeder hens (31 to 39 weeks of age) exhibited better rates of eclosion and hatchability than eggs from older hens (53 to 63 weeks of age)
Summary
Dentre os fatores relacionados para o sucesso da incubação está a idade da matriz, pois este pode influenciar na qualidade interna e externa do ovo. Two important goals of broiler breeder production are to increase the eclosion rate of eggs and to generate healthy chicks. There are subsequent decreases in gas conduction and negative effects on embryo metabolism, which may affect the activity of the enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis These changes interfere in the embryo’s concentration of blood glucose, as well as in the type and quantity of nutrients available for embryonic development (CAMARGO et al, 2015). Young breeders lay smaller eggs with a lower incubation yield, lower chick quality, and a lower rate of eclosion These differences may be attributed to lower yolk concentrations in the egg, as the yolk is fundamental for embryo growth (MAIORKA et al, 2000). Knowledge on the production outcomes of eggs laid by breeder hens of different ages is essential for improved management of egg hatcheries and will help to guarantee both the conditions necessary for embryonic development and maximized productivity
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