Effects of egg size (weight) and age on hatching performance and chick quality of broiler breeder

Abstract

A total of 2000 Hubbard Classic females and 180 males (male to female ratio 1:11) close to standard body weights were selected and managed separately in the same shed. The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of egg size (small, medium and large) at mid (45 weeks) production cycle and flock age (30, 45 and 60 weeks old) on hatching egg weight loss, fertility, hatchability traits, chick weight and chick yield in a commercial Hubbard Classic broiler breeder flock. The results showed that minimum egg weight loss (P ≤ 0.05) was recorded in large egg size group at different incubation periods and egg weight losses decreased with advancing the age of breeder hens. Maximum fertility and hatchability (P ≤ 0.05) was noticed in small egg size group, followed by medium and large egg size groups. However, maximum embryonic mortality (P ≤ 0.05) during incubation and higher percentage of infertile eggs was recorded in large size egg group, followed by medium and small egg size groups. Low fertility, hatchability was recorded (P ≤ 0.05) in older hen at the age of 60 weeks. The chick weight and chick length were amplified (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing the egg size. However, egg size was not influenced (P ≥ 0.05) on chick yield. The chick weight, chick yield and chick length were improved (P ≤ 0.05) with advancing age of broiler breeder.

Uticaj Mase Rasplodnih Jaja Roditeljskog Jata Teškog Linijskog Hibrida Na Rezultate Inkubacije

“…This finding is consistent with the data reported by Abudabos et al (2017) for the incubation of eggs of autochthonous free-range chickens, and those by Duman and (2017) for the egg incubation of meattype hybrid. On the contrary, Rosa et al (2002) found a significantly higher total mortality in the group of large eggs of an average weight of 73.2 g (9.6%), compared to eggs of an average weight of 60.0 g (7.0%) and 65.1 g (6 , 7%), which is consistent with the results obtained by Iqbal et al (2016) Kopecký (2015) found the highest total mortality in the group of eggs weighing 70-75 g (16.7%), and the lowest in the group weighing 55-60 g (9.7%). Early embryonal mortality in our study was most pronounced in group XL (18.1%), and lowest in group S (10.8%), with no statistically significant differences , p> 0.05).…”

“…(2015) determined the absence of statistically significant differences between eggs of different masses for the mid and late mortality. Iqbal et al (2016) found significantly higher early, mid and late mortality in the group of large eggs of an average weight of 70.03 g (3.3, 2.3 and 3.00%, respectively) in relation to the group of eggs of an average weight of 60.05 g (2.0; 1.3 and 1.67%, respectively). The largest mass group (XL) in our study had higher values of early and late mortality, although there was no statistically significant difference, which is in accordance with the results of several authors.…”

“…However, the same author recognized a higher percentage of A class chickens in the group of small and medium eggs, and a significantly higher percentage of late embryonic mortality and B class chickens in the group of large eggs. Iqbal et al (2016) found differences in the percentage of fertilization and hatchability of commercial hybrids among different egg sizes, maximum fertility and hatchability (P ≤ 0.05) was noticed in small egg size group, followed by medium and large egg size groups. However, maximum embryonic mortality and higher percentage of infertile eggs was recorded in large size egg group, followed by medium and small egg size groups.…”

“…This indicator varies depending on the age of the flock and the genotype (Kumpula, 2004;Abudabos, 2010;Iqbal et al, 2016), but also on paragenetic factors, such as nutrition and sex ratio. The influence of paragenetic factors, primarily nutrition on egg fertilization, is particularly important for the parent stock which is selected for fattening and well-used food, which is why they are prone to weight gain and it is necessary to feed them restrictively in order to preserve reproductive activity.…”

Effect of Egg Weights on Hatching Results, Broiler Performance and Some Stress Parameters

“…It is a significant parameter for optimum flock performance . Effects of egg weight on pullet performance have been widely studied (Witt de & Schwalbach, 2004;Alkan et al, 2008;Jiang & Yang 2007;Ulmer-Franco et al, 2010;Egbeyale et al, 2011;Iqbal et al, 2016). However, such studies do not gather growth, carcass parameters, internal organ weights, blood parameters, asymmetry and tonic immobility in a single study.…”