Effect Of Eggshell Temperature Research Articles

Effect of eggshell temperatures on hatching performance, egg production, and bone morphology of laying hens

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of lower or higher eggshell temperatures from days 7 to 21 on hatching performance, bone and blood parameters, and egg production along with the age of laying chickens. A total of 3150 eggs obtained from a white egg-type breeder were divided randomly into 3 groups of 1050 eggs. From 7 to 21 days, eggs were incubated at one of three eggshell temperatures: Control (IC) 37.5 °C, low (IL) 36.9 °C, and high (IH) 38.5 °C. At hatch, chicks were weighed, and blood was collected to measure total Ca, inorganic P, and ALP level weights, dimensions, and ash contents of femur, humerus, and tibia were obtained. A total of 240 chicks from each incubation temperature were reared up to 58 weeks. The results showed that hatchability was similar among the eggshell temperature groups. The IL chicks had the heaviest chick weight and yolk free chick weight. The IH group had reduced chick weight compared to IL and IC but increased lengths of tibia and humerus, ash contents of tibia and femur, and blood Ca levels at the day of the hatch. Laying hens from the IH group had impaired body weight during the laying cycle. At 58 weeks, there was no effect of eggshell temperature on egg production, bone length, and width. IH hens had lower tibia ash and serum Ca but higher P and ALP levels compared to IL and IC groups. However, bone mineral content and mineral density were similar for hens from different eggshell temperature groups. In conclusion, it appeared that although chicks from the IH group had reduced chick weight, they had improved bone morphology and ash content of bones compared to IC and IL at hatch. However, IH hens could not maintain the higher ash content during the grow-out and laying periods. The results indicate that the positive effect of IH incubation temperature on bone morphological measurements and ash content of tibia would not be long term.

Effect of eggshell temperature on survival rate, development at hatch, and 7-day growth

SUMMARY Determination of the optimal embryo temperature for growth, maturation, nutrient utilization, hatchability, and hatchling quality has received much research attention. While several studies in other avian species have been reported, studies fine-tuning turkey hatchability have not been done. Therefore, a study looking at 4 different eggshell temperatures (99.2–99.4, 99.4–99.6, 99.8–100.2, and 100.5–101.0°F) from d 1 to 25 of incubation was conducted. Results show a decrease in hatch of fertile eggs for eggs incubated at eggshell temperatures greater than 100.5°F. Body weight and yolk free body mass were also decreased for eggs incubated at these same higher eggshell temperatures. The optimal eggshell temperature (EST) throughout incubation for turkey embryos seems to be lower than the optimum EST found for broiler embryos and this might be related to the greater turkey egg mass.

Effects of Egg Shell Temperature and Incubator Ventilation Programme on Incubation Results of Broiler Breeders

The impacts of egg weight (EW), egg shell temperature (EST), egg position in the incubator (EP) and incubator ventilation program (IVP) on embryonic mortality (EM) and hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) of broiler breeders were investigated in this study. EW was determined total 1920 hatching eggs which were obtained from middle aged (31 weeks) Ross 308 broiler breeders. These eggs were classified according to weight as heavy (65.52±0.08g), medium (61.47±0.04g) and light (57.56±0.08g) then were randomly set in trolleys of four identical incubators sorted as near the heather side – door side, humidifier side – opposite side and top – middle – bottom. In two incubators 37.78°C (100.0°F) EST and 38.06°C (100.5°F) EST were provided in the other two. Similarly, two machines were operated on classic IVP system and the other two were operated on new IVP system organised specially for this project during first 10 days of incubation. At the end of the hatching period, data including EM and HFE data were examined in eggs with different EST, EW and EP. It was found that EW and EST were affected to EM and HFE. Lower last stage + pipped but unhatched embryo rates and accordingly higher HFE were determined in eggs with 37.78°C (100.0°F) EST and light. However, differences between IVP and EP data were not significant.

Effect of eggshell temperature throughout incubation on broiler hatchling leg bone development

Leg problems in broiler chickens may partly be prevented by providing optimal circumstances for skeletal development during incubation. One of the factors demonstrated to affect bone development is eggshell temperature (EST), which provides a reliable reflection of embryo temperature. The present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of EST on development and asymmetry of the femur, tibia, and metatarsus in broiler chicken hatchlings. Eggs were incubated from d 0 until hatch at 1 of 4 EST: low (36.9°C), normal (37.8°C), high (38.6°C), and very high (39.4°C). At hatch, chick quality was determined in terms of chick length, yolk-free body mass, navel score, and organ weights. Tibia, femur, and metatarsus were weighed, their length and width (mediolateral diameter) and depth (craniocaudal diameter) at the middle of the shaft were measured, and their ash content was determined. Relative asymmetry of the leg bones was determined from their relative dimensions. Hatchability, chick quality, and organ development were lower for very high EST compared with all other treatments. Very high EST resulted in lowest tibia and metatarsus lengths (−3.1 to −8.4%) compared with all other treatments, and lower metatarsus weight (−9.1%) and femur length (−4.9%) compared with high EST. Relative asymmetry and ash content did not differ among treatments and no relation between EST and bone parameters was found. To conclude, very high EST resulted in lower bone development, hatchability, and chick quality. Few differences in bone development and chick quality were found between low, normal, and high EST.

Effect of eggshell temperature and oxygen concentration during incubation on the developmental and physiological status of broiler hatchlings in the perinatal period

This study evaluated the influence of incubation conditions on the developmental and physiological status of birds in the perinatal period, which spans the end of incubation until the early posthatch period. Embryos were incubated at a normal (37.8°C) or high (38.9°C) eggshell temperature (EST) and a low (17%), normal (21%), or high (25%) O(2) concentration from d 7 until 19 of incubation. After d 19 of incubation, EST was maintained, but O(2) concentrations were 21% for all embryos. Body and organ weights, and hepatic glycogen levels were measured at d 18 of incubation and at 12 and 48 h after emergence from the eggshell. In addition, blood metabolites were measured at 12 and 48 h after emergence from the eggshell. Embryos incubated at a high EST and low O(2) concentration had the highest mortality in the last week of incubation, which may be related to their low yolk-free body mass (YFBM) or a reduced nutrient availability for hatching (i.e., hepatic glycogen). High EST, compared with normal EST, decreased YFBM. This may be due to the shorter incubation duration of 8 h, the lower weight of supply organs (i.e., heart and lung), or a lack of glucose precursors. Because of this lack of glucose precursors, embryos incubated at high EST may have used proteins for energy production instead of for body development at the end of incubation. The YFBM at d 18 of incubation increased with an increase in O(2) concentration. However, differences between the normal and high O(2) concentration disappeared at 12 and 48 h after emergence, possibly because the high O(2) concentration had difficulties adapting to lower O(2) concentrations in the perinatal period. Blood metabolites and hepatic glycogen were comparable among O(2) concentrations, indicating that the physiological status at hatch may be related to the environment that the embryo experienced during the hatching process. In conclusion, EST and O(2) concentration differentially influence the developmental and physiological status of broilers during the perinatal period.

Effect of eggshell temperature and a hole in the air cell on the perinatal development and physiology of layer hatchlings

To investigate the effect of incubation conditions on layer hatchlings, an experiment was performed in which layer eggs were incubated at a normal (37.8 degrees C) or high (38.9 degrees C) eggshell temperature (EST) and a hole was punctured in the air cell of half of the eggs in both EST treatments from d 14 of incubation onward. Chick development, plasma metabolites, and hepatic glycogen were measured at 12 h after emergence from the eggshell. Embryo mortality was not affected by the EST or hole treatment. At the high EST, yolk-free body mass was 0.7 g lower and residual yolk weight was 0.7 g higher than at the normal EST. This may be related to the shorter incubation duration at the high EST. Relative heart, lung, stomach, liver, spleen, and intestinal weights were lower in the high EST than in the normal EST group. Yolk-free body mass did not differ between eggs with or without a hole, but residual yolk weight was slightly lower in eggs with a hole (0.3 g). Relative lung weights were higher in eggs with than without a hole, whereas no effect on other organs was found. Plasma glucose, lactate, and uric acid concentrations did not differ between the EST or hole treatments. Hepatic glycogen was lower in the high EST (7.3 mg) than in the normal EST group (11.2 mg) at 12 h after emergence from the eggshell, and this effect may be related to the shorter hatching process at the high EST. Hepatic glycogen levels were lower in eggs with a hole (8.6 mg) compared with eggs without a hole (10.0 mg), and this may be related to the longer period between external pipping and hatching in eggs with a hole. In conclusion, the EST and hole treatment did not interact, and neither treatments affected embryonic survival. High EST negatively affected hatchling development and seemed to change the carbohydrate metabolism in layer embryos. The effect of a hole in the air cell was limited.

Effects of Eggshell Temperature and Oxygen Concentration on Embryo Growth and Metabolism During Incubation

Embryo development and heat production (HP) were studied in eggs of similar size (60 to 65 g) that were incubated at normal (37.8°C) or high (38.9°C) eggshell temperature (EST) and exposed to low (17%), normal (21%), or high (25%) O2 concentration from d 9 through 19. High EST initially increased HP, but gradually O2 became more important for HP than EST. Finally,HP was highest for the combination of high EST with high O2 and lowest for the combination of high EST with low O2. High EST decreased hatch time, BW, yolk free BW, and relative heart weight. The EST had no effect on residual yolk weight, chick length, or relative liver weight. Increased O2 increased yolk free BW and chick length and decreased residual yolk weight at hatch. No interactions between EST and O2 were observed with regard to embryo development and hatchling characteristics. If embryo development is reflected by HP, it can be concluded that high EST primarily increased embryonic development until the second week of incubation. During the third week of incubation, O2 had a greater effect in determining embryo development than EST.

Effect of eggshell temperature during incubation on embryo development, hatchability, and posthatch development

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different eggshell temperature (EST) profiles during incubation on embryo mortality, hatchability, and embryo development. Furthermore, chicks from different EST profiles were reared under low and high housing temperatures to investigate subsequent posthatch growth and rectal temperature. Two batches of eggs were used in this experiment. Hatching eggs were subjected to 36.7 or 37.8 degrees C EST during the first week, to 37.8 degrees C EST during the second week, and to 37.8 or 38.9 degrees C EST during the third week of incubation. Posthatch housing temperature decreased from 35 degrees C at d 1 to 30 degrees C at d 7 (high) or decreased from 30 degrees C at d 1 to 25 degrees C at d 7 (low). The difference between machine temperature and EST (DT) was used to illustrate the effect of EST on heat production during incubation. DT differed per batch, and was smallest when eggs were incubated at 36.7 degrees C instead of 37.8 degrees C during wk 1. High EST during wk 3 of incubation (38.9 degrees C instead of 37.8 degrees C) reduced DT only in batch 2. Embryo development was most retarded in eggs incubated at 36.7 degrees C EST compared with at 37.8 degrees C during the first week of incubation. However, highest hatchability and embryo development were always found when EST was maintained at 37.8 degrees C constantly throughout incubation. Chicks that hatched from eggs incubated at low EST during wk 1 of incubation had lower rectal temperature after hatching, especially under low housing temperatures, and this effect lasted until 7 d posthatch in batch 1. The highest rectal temperatures were always found in chicks incubated at 37.8 degrees C EST constantly throughout incubation. Eggs and chicks from different batches require different environmental conditions for optimal embryo development, hatchability, and posthatch growth. Rearing temperature and incubation conditions affect the ability of young chicks to maintain their rectal temperature during the first week posthatch.