Broiler Incubation. 1. Effect of Elevated Temperature During Late Incubation on Body Weight and Organs of Chicks

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of increased egg temperature during the final third of incubation on BW, yolk sac, heart, and digestive organs of broiler chicks at hatching. Egg temperatures were found to be approximately 1.0 to 1.5 degrees C higher than incubator air temperature. Elevated egg temperature (39.5 degrees C) after embryonic day 14 generally accelerated hatching time but decreased the relative weight of the heart in all 3 experiments, whereas BW and relative weights of the gizzard, proventriculus, and small intestines were significantly smaller in 2 of 3 experiments as compared with the control (approximately 38.2 degrees C). Relative weights of the yolk sac or liver were significantly larger due to elevated egg temperature in single experiments only. A striking feature of the chicks that developed at an elevated egg temperature was their white color as compared with the yellow color of chicks from eggs incubated at more normal temperatures.

Thermal stimulation of Ross®-lineage embryos on a commercial scale

“…The weight of the heart was lower in the T1 group (hot stimulus: 1.39ºC) than in other groups. This observation was consistent with the literature, in which overheated embryos showed reduced heart size and altered cardiac muscle development (LEKSRISOMPONG et al, 2007) with an eggshell temperature of 38.90ºC.…”

The Effects of Different Eggshell Temperatures Between Embryonic Day 10 and 18 on Broiler Performance and Susceptibility to Ascites

“…Many difficulties in broiler production, such as ascites, are related with cardiovascular development and function problems (Leksrisompong et al, 2007). Differences in embryo temperatures result in differences in the development of specific organs, such as the heart muscle both in embryos and chickens (Wineland et al, 2000a(Wineland et al, , 2000bShafey, 2004;Leksrisompong et al, 2007;Lourens et al, 2007).…”

“…Many difficulties in broiler production, such as ascites, are related with cardiovascular development and function problems (Leksrisompong et al, 2007). Differences in embryo temperatures result in differences in the development of specific organs, such as the heart muscle both in embryos and chickens (Wineland et al, 2000a(Wineland et al, , 2000bShafey, 2004;Leksrisompong et al, 2007;Lourens et al, 2007). The reduced heart weights at hatch due to higher EST may increase the susceptibility to and the incidence of metabolic disorders related with cardiovascular development later in life, such as ascites (Wineland et al, 2000a, Leksrisompong et al, 2007.…”

“…Wineland et al (2000aWineland et al ( , 2000b) demonstrated that incubation temperatures above 37°C negatively affected the development of the whole body and specific organs of chickens. High incubation temperatures decrease in 17-31% the relative heart weight of broilers (Wineland et al, 2000a(Wineland et al, , 2000bLeksrisompong et al, 2007, Lourens et al, 2008.…”

“…Studies on this subject have usually compared the effects of lower or higher eggshell temperatures with optimal temperatures during early (4-7 days) (Shim & Pesti, 2011;Joseph et al, 2006) or late incubation (18-21 days) stages (Hulet et al, 2007;Leksrisompong et al, 2007;Willemsen et al, 2010) on different parameters (e.g., bone development and leg problems, embryo development, organ development, incubation parameters, chick quality, etc.). The aim of the present study was determine the effects of different eggshell temperatures (low, control, or high) applied between days 10 and 18 of incubation on broiler performance and susceptibility to ascites.…”