Factors related to shell deaths during artificial incubation of ostrich eggs

Brand, Z.; Cloete, S.W.P.; Brown, Chris; Malecki, Irek

doi:10.4102/jsava.v78i4.322

Cited by 18 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…This observation was confirmed in a study by Ipek & Sahan (2004). Successful artificial incubation is also affected by a number of factors including female age, season, and storage conditions of eggs prior to setting in the incubator, as well as the type of incubator Van Schalkwyk, 1999;Brand et al, 2007;Brand, et al, 2008a). Egg production of ostrich females starts at 2 -2.5 years of age and peak egg and chick production occurs at 8 -9 years.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Egg production of ostrich females starts at 2 -2.5 years of age and peak egg and chick production occurs at 8 -9 years. Female age, however, is known to influence the number of eggs laid as well as egg weight and, consequently, chick weight at hatching (Bunter & Cloete, 2004;Ipek & Sahan, 2004;Lambrechts, 2004;Cloete et al, 2006a;Brand et al, 2007). Embryonic deaths during both the first half and the second half of incubation were proportionally increased in older females, the effect being more pronounced for deaths during the second half of incubation (Brand et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hassan et al (2005) reported that the storage period affected egg weight loss, while Deeming (1993) determined that an increase of storage time resulted in a reduction of embryo vitality. The storage of ostrich eggs for periods longer than seven days, results in an increase of embryonic mortality (Wilson et al, 1997;Brand et al, 2007). Results from studies by Deeming (1995a), Ar (1996) and Blood et al (1998) showed that the optimal water loss for artificially-incubated ostrich eggs amounts to approximately 15% but, like other birds, ostriches show some latitude in the amount of water loss at which eggs will still hatch successfully.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Female age, however, is known to influence the number of eggs laid as well as egg weight and, consequently, chick weight at hatching (Bunter & Cloete, 2004;Ipek & Sahan, 2004;Lambrechts, 2004;Cloete et al, 2006a;Brand et al, 2007). Embryonic deaths during both the first half and the second half of incubation were proportionally increased in older females, the effect being more pronounced for deaths during the second half of incubation (Brand et al, 2007). Hassan et al (2005) reported that the storage period affected egg weight loss, while Deeming (1993) determined that an increase of storage time resulted in a reduction of embryo vitality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of incubation management on pipping position, hatching ability and survival of ostrich chicks

Brand¹,

Cloete²,

Malecki³

et al. 2011

SA J. An. Sci.

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Despite numerous studies, the effect of artificial incubation on the hatchability and survival of nearterm ostrich chicks is still not well understood. Records from 13 975 eggs with embryos of 35 days and older, artificially incubated between 2006 and 2008, were analysed to determine the potential effect of pipping position upon the hatchability, and the subsequent survival of ostrich chicks. A total of 864 nearterm chicks (6.9%) failed to pip. Chicks that pipped in the correct position had a higher probability of surviving hatching than those pipping in the incorrect position. Genotype did not affect the proportion of chicks pipping in the correct position, or the survival of hatching ostrich chicks pipping in either the correct or incorrect positions. Although female age had a significant effect on the proportion of chicks pipping, the survival of hatchlings was independent of female age. Chicks hatching during winter were more likely to pip than chicks hatching in spring, whereas chicks hatching in summer were more likely to pip in the correct position. In winter the proportion of chicks pipping in incorrect positions were significantly higher than in either summer or autumn. The survival rate of chicks hatching during winter was generally higher than those hatching in the other seasons. The transfer of eggs between setters during incubation, had a negative influence on the ability of ostrich chicks pipping in the correct position. Incubated ostrich eggs with intermediate levels of water loss, i.e. between 9.0 and 18.9% of fresh-egg weight, were more likely to pip in the correct position overall than those with higher or lower levels of water loss. Chicks from eggs stored for intermediate periods, i.e. 3, 4 and 6 days prior to being set, were more likely to pip than chicks from those eggs set directly after collection without storage. Storage time also affected pipping position, with chicks from eggs stored for five days being more likely to pip in the correct position than chicks from those eggs set directly after collection. These results emphasize the need for ostrich incubation facilities to avoid the transfer of eggs between setters during artificial incubation, strive to achieve an optimal level of water loss, and apply a protocol of not setting eggs immediately after collection to maximize the hatchability of chicks pipping in the correct position and post-hatching survival.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Influence of incubation management on pipping position, hatching ability and survival of ostrich chicks

Brand¹,

Cloete²,

Malecki³

et al. 2011

SA J. An. Sci.

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“…All eggs collected during the 2007 breeding season were weighed and identified by date and paddock (female) of origin. Methods for collection, disinfection and storage at the experimental site are well documented 1999;Brand et al, 2007). Data involved various combinations of the two purebred bloodlines South African Blacks (SAB) and Zimbabwean Blues (ZB), as well as ZB male x SAB female crosses.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the air cell volume of artificially incubated ostrich eggs

Brand¹,

Cloete²,

Malecki³

et al. 2013

SA J. An. Sci.

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________________________________________________________________________________ AbstractA total of 2160 images of candled, incubated ostrich eggs were digitized to determine the percentage of egg volume occupied by the air cell at different stages of incubation. The air cell on average occupied 2.5% of the volume of fresh eggs. For eggs that hatched successfully, this volume increased to an average of 24.4% at 41 days of incubation, just prior to hatching. Air cell volume at 29 days of incubation for infertile eggs (19.3%) was significantly higher when compared to dead-in-shell (DIS) eggs (14.3%) and eggs that hatched (13.8%). There was a significantly larger air cell volume in eggs that hatched normally compared with DIS eggs at 41 days of incubation (28.3% vs. 21.7%, respectively). No differences in air cell volume were observed up to day 17 of incubation for eggs that hatched normally between eggs that exhibited high, average or low rates of water loss, but from 20 days of incubation the air cell volume was significantly larger for high weight loss eggs. However, for the DIS eggs, air cell volume was consistently larger in eggs that exhibited high rates of water loss. Air cell volume was largely independent of adult strain (SA Black or Zimbabwean Blue) or whether chicks were assisted to hatch. Although some subtle differences in air cell size were detected between hatched and DIS chicks during this study, it is unlikely to find useful application in the broader industry.________________________________________________________________________________

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