Storage Temperature or Thermal Treatments During Long Egg Storage Duration Influences Hatching Performance and Chick Quality.

Maryse Guinebretière,Edouard Coudert,Rodolphe Thomas,Alassane Keïta,Sophie Réhault-Godbert,Estelle Cailleau-Audouin,Julie Puterflam,Pascal Chartrin,Anne Collin

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.852733

Abstract

This study was designed to improve the hatching performance, chick robustness and poultry health in the event of long-term egg storage and suboptimal age of the reproductive flock. A total of 9,600 eggs from one young breeder flock (28 weeks of age, batch B) and 9,600 eggs from an older breeder flock (59 weeks of age, batch E) were used (ROSS 308). Each batch was separated into three sub-groups and stored for 14 days. The first sub-group of eggs (Cool, group C) was stored at 11.6°C. The second sub-group of eggs (Warm, group W) was stored at 18.3°C with two pre-incubation on days 6 and 10 of the storage period. The final sub-group of eggs (Control, group Ct) was stored at 18.3°C throughout the storage period. Eggs were similarly incubated and hatched birds were raised on the same experimental farm. In both batches, embryonic development was significantly more advanced in W eggs than in C and Ct eggs ( p < 0.01). In both batches, C and W treatments decreased early embryonic mortality by more than 10% compared with Ct, decreased the proportion of late-hatched chicks and improved the percentage of first grade chicks: in batch E, 42% of Ct eggs were first grade chicks vs. 57% in group W and 59% in group C. Benefits were even higher in batch B, where only 60% of Ct eggs gave first grade chicks vs. 83% in others groups. The hatching rate was thus higher in groups C and W regardless of flock age: for batch B eggs, 85% hatched in W and 84% in C vs. 62% in Ct, while for batch E eggs, 59% hatched in W and 61% in C vs. 45% in Ct. Day-old Ct chicks from batch E were heavier than W and C ones, and heavier than W chicks from batch B ( p < 0.05). Long-term parameters on farm were not significantly different between groups. Thermal treatments during the storage of eggs from both young and old breeder flocks counterbalance the negative effects of prolonged egg storage on hatching rate, without altering chicken performance during rearing.

Highlights

In order to coordinate hatchery activities and improve their flexibility to meet market fluctuations and demand, the duration of egg storage may vary in the broiler breeder industry
After 14 days of storage, in both batches B and E, the developmental stage of the embryo was higher in W than in control group (Ct) eggs, while Ct and C embryo stages were not significantly different
Whether eggs came from young or old breeder flocks, pre-incubations and cool treatment during egg storage both resulted in reduced embryo mortality, which led to a subsequent decrease in the number of unhatched eggs and unhatched chicks, increasing the number of hatched chicks

Summary

Introduction

In order to coordinate hatchery activities and improve their flexibility to meet market fluctuations and demand, the duration of egg storage may vary in the broiler breeder industry. Hatcheries are dependent on the availability of breeder flocks to meet demands for day-old chicks, with either young flocks (before 35 weeks of age) or older ones (over 55 weeks of age). Prolonged egg storage (7 days or more) has negative consequences on embryonic survival, the hatching rates of fertile eggs and chick quality (Lapão et al, 1999; Tona et al, 2003a,b; Fasenko, 2007; Hamidu et al, 2010). It can have a negative effect on the long-term performance of chickens (body and carcass weight; Alsobayel and Al-Miman, 2010). The quality of chicks from a young flock appears to be better (Tona et al, 2004) and their mortality rate is lower (Peebles et al, 1999)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion