The Association of Certain Measures of Interior Egg Quality with Hatchability

Abstract

IN THE hatching of offspring from a group of birds being used in a study on the inheritance of certain interior egg quality characters, it became evident that there was a marked difference in the numbers of chicks obtained from the different matings. These differences suggested that some association might exist between interior egg quality and hatchability.Increasing the hatchability of hens’ eggs is one of the most basic problems in the annual renewing of the laying stock. The importance of the saving that is possible can be realized when the value of 15 to 25 percent of the fertile eggs set in incubators, that do not hatch, is calculated.To what extent do variations in the contents of the egg, or the chemical or physical arrangement of the same, affect the hatching power of that egg? Most studies of this nature have been in connection with inadequate diets fed .