Comparison of Three Temperatures for the Hatching Phase in the Artificial Incubation of Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Eggs

Abstract

Game farming, hatching synchrony, incubation temperature, red-legged partridge.Submitted: May/2015 Approved: November/2015 ABSTRACTThis study aimed at investigating the effects of three incubation temperatures during the hatching period on egg weight loss, hatchability, chick weight at hatching and length of the incubation period of redlegged partridge (Alectoris rufa) under artificial incubation. One hundred and fifty eggs obtained from a red-legged partridge game farm were randomly allocated to three batches of 50 eggs each. Eggs were incubated at 37.8ºC during the first 20 days, and subsequently at 37.0, 37.4 or 37.8ºC until hatching. Fertility was 74.7% and a good hatching performance was obtained, characterized by 85.7% hatchability, 9.1% egg weight loss after 20 days of incubation, 13.8±0.1 g chick weight at hatching, and 23.2±0.1 days incubation length. Hatchability, egg weight loss after 20 days of incubation, and length of the incubation period were not affected by incubation temperature during the hatching period. However, hatching synchrony improved when the incubation temperature was increased from 37.0 to 37.8°C (p<0.05). Thus, hatching distribution became very leptokurtic and very positively skewed with the increase in incubation temperature during the hatching phase. In conclusion, higher hatching synchrony can be achieved in A. rufa when setting temperatures within the range 37.0 to 37.8ºC to incubate eggs during the hatching period. Consequently, incubation temperature management during the hatching phase may have a direct impact on hatching synchrony and hatchling management.

Comparison of Several Turning Frequencies During the Storage Period of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Hatching Eggs

“…Mean weight of recently-laid fertile eggs and egg weight loss during storage and during the first 21 d of incubation results agree with those described for red-legged partridges reared in game farms (González-Redondo, 2010;Mourão et al, 2010;Gómez-de-Travecedo et al, 2014a, 2014b, 2014cGonzález-Redondo & Díaz-Merino, 2016). As expected, egg weight losses were not affected by the turning frequency during egg storage.…”

“…The fertility, hatchability of the incubated eggs and hatchability of the fertile eggs found in this trial were within the ranges described for farmed red-legged partridge by several authors (fertility: 50.2-89.7%, hatchability: 30.6-86.4%, and hatchability of the fertile eggs: 57.5-91.6%; Bagliacca et al, 1988;Paci et al, 1992;González-Redondo, 2006, 2010Mourão et al, 2010;Gómez-de-Travecedo et al, 2014a, 2014b, 2014cGonzález-Redondo & Díaz-Merino, 2016). As hatchability did not vary among turning frequency treatments, it can be considered that all turning frequencies tested during storage, including the absence of turning, provided suitable hatchability.…”

“…Hatchling weights recorded in this trial was similar to the mean values described for red-legged partridges in captivity (13.8-14.3 g, according to Gómez- de-Travecedo et al, 2014ade-Travecedo et al, , 2014bde-Travecedo et al, , 2014cGonzález-Redondo & Díaz-Merino, 2016) and was not modified by the turning frequency during storage. A visual inspection showed that hatchling quality and performance was normal.…”

“…eRBCA-2018-0882 but embryo dies early, before blood formation), early embryonic mortality (EEM, before day 8 of incubation, when only the development of blood vessels can be distinguished), late embryonic mortality (LEM, from day 9 of incubation onwards, when body structures can be distinguished), or pipped embryos dead in the shell (P). The length of the incubation period (measured in d) was obtained as the difference between setting and hatching dates of each single egg, determined through hatching controls carried out every 12 h (following the method of González-Redondo et al, 2012;Gómezde-Travecedo et al, 2014c;González-Redondo & Díaz-Merino, 2016). All chicks were individually weighed at hatch.…”

“…There are two keys to enhance A. rufa game farming productivity: egg handling before incubation and their artificial incubation. These aspects have been recently researched in order to review, assess, and improve the farmers' empirical know-how (e.g., González-Redondo & De la Rosa Sánchez, 2009;González-Redondo, 2010;Gómez-de-Travecedo et al, 2014a, 2014b, 2014cGonzález-Redondo & Díaz-Merino, 2016). However, scientific assessment of several aspects of red-legged partridge egg handling during storage before incubation is still lacking.…”