ELEVATED EGG HOLDING ROOM TEMPERATURE OF 74F (23.3C) DOES NOT DEPRESS HATCHABILITY OR CHICK QUALITY

Authors: BOURASSA, DIANNA - UGA; Buhr, Richard - Jeff; WILSON, J. - UGA

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2001
Publication Date: 8/11/2002
Citation: BOURASSA, D.V., BUHR, R.J., WILSON, J.L. ELEVATED EGG HOLDING ROOM TEMPERATURE OF 74F (23.3C) DOES NOT DEPRESS HATCHABILITY OR CHICK QUALITY. SOUTHERN POULTRY SCIENCE SOCIETY MEETING ABSTRACT. 2002.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effect of holding broiler hatching eggs at 74F prior to collection and transport to the hatchery. Eggs were collected from a broiler breeder flock at 29, 37, and 43 wk of age for four consecutive days. On each day, clean eggs with good shell quality from each eggflat were distributed into two groups (2 setting racks of 88 eggs per group), one group held at 66F and the second at 74F. On Day 5, all eggs were transported 10 miles to simulate transportation from the farm to the hatchery. Eggs were placed in the hatchery cooler (66F) overnight and set the following morning in an incubator operating at 95.5 F and 55% RH. A total of 4,224 broiler breeder eggs was used in the three settings. On Day 12 and 18 of incubation, eggs were candled and all nonviable eggs removed and opened. On Day 21 normal hatched chicks were counted, abnormal chicks were noted, and the entire residue was broken out and recorded. An additional 60 eggs per group were set and broken out after 48 h of incubation to determine embryo somite counts, which was similar for both groups at 20.5 somites. Hatchability of fertile eggs differed by less than one percent. The main advantages of elevating the holding room temperature for broiler breeder eggs are energy conservation on the farm and minimization of egg sweating during transport.