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

Abstract

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.

Histomorfometria De Orgãos Linfoides E Desenvolvimento Intestinal De Pintos De Corte Originados De Matrizes Com Diferentes Idades E Submetidos Ao Estresse Por Calor Na Incubação

“…Os resultados obtidos neste estudo estão de acordo com os observados por Van der Pol et al (2) , que verificaram que, em temperatura constante de incubação, houve aumento do peso da bursa de Fabricius em pintos oriundos de matrizes mais velhas, embora os autores não tenham avaliado área de folículo da bursa. Esses resultados também corroboram os observados por Leandro et al (9) que, em estudo com pintos originados de matrizes com diferentes idades, mas em condições ideais de Histomorfometria de órgãos linfoides e desenvolvimento intestinal... temperatura, observaram que matrizes mais velhas originaram pintos com melhor resposta imune.…”

“…Alguns pesquisadores avaliaram indiretamente a resposta imune das aves por meio de morfometria de órgãos linfoides. Van der Pol et al (2) estudaram o peso do baço e da bursa de Fabricius de pintos neonatos de matrizes com diferentes idades e observaram que pintos oriundos de matrizes mais velhas apresentaram maior peso de bursa de Fabricius.…”

Effects of eggshell temperature pattern during incubation on tibia characteristics of broiler chickens at slaughter age

“…(2009) found comparable results at slaughter age when applying a high eggshell temperature ( EST , 38.9°C) during the last 4 D of incubation compared with an EST of 36.9°C. Van der Pol et al. (2014) observed that a high EST (38.6°C) throughout incubation appears to result in lower tibia, femur, and metatarsus lengths at hatch compared with an EST of 36.9°C and 37.8°C.…”

“…A lower or higher temperature than this optimum might influence the quality of hatchlings ( Wilson, 1991 , French, 1997 , Tona et al., 2005 ) and embryonic bone development as well. Bone development and growth plate differentiation begins during incubation and incubation temperature has been demonstrated to affect bone development and later life leg health of broiler chickens ( Hammond et al., 2007 , Oviedo-Rondón et al., 2008a , Oviedo-Rondón et al., 2008b , Oviedo-Rondón et al., 2009 , Shim and Pesti, 2011 , Van der Pol et al., 2014 ). Effects of incubation temperature on embryonic bone development and later life leg health might be related to the speed of bone mineralization during incubation.…”

Femur Properties of Embryo in the Layer Hybrid and Pure Breeds

“…Leg problems may occur in the pre and post hatch period. Incubation conditions have a significant effect on bone characteristics and leg problems of poultry (Groves & Murin, 2014;Oviedo-Randon et al, 2009;Van der Pol et al, 2014). Bone mineralization and development begin during embryo development, so it is possible for skeletal disorders to develop when the embryo is developing in the egg (Torres & Korver, 2018).…”