Mechanical vibrations in the transport of hatching eggs and the losses caused in the hatch and quality of broiler chicks

Abstract

Many factors present in eggs' transportation from incubator to growing confinements can damage their integrity and, consequently, the results of the incubation. This study aimed to evaluate whether the intensity and duration of exposures of hatching eggs to mechanical vibrations were capable of affecting the hatch and the quality of broiler chicks. Four treatments, determined by two intensities of vibrations and two durations of exposures were evaluated and compared with a control group in a randomised design in blocks with four repetitions. The vibrations were applied by a mechanical shaker before incubation. Then the eggs were incubated and as the following responses were evaluated: hatchability, the type of embryonic mortality, the quality of the birds and the total of losses. The analyses were carried out by a binomial regression model, with application of the Wald test at 5% significance level. The results showed that the exposure of eggs to mechanical vibrations harmfully affects the hatchability and reduces the ratio (percentage) of high quality chicks. Highest vibration level together with longer duration of exposure resulted in worst hatchability and losses. It is argued that the mechanical vibrations are potentially damaging and should be regarded as an important factor in the management of hatching eggs.

Effects of transportation and storage duration of Japanese quail eggs on hatchability

“…Researchers indicated that the hatchability of fertile eggs of the control group without vibration was higher than the hatchability of fertile eggs of vibrated eggs at various levels, but the differences between treatment groups were not significant. The present findings are different from the findings of Donofre et al (2017), which indicated negative influences of excessive vibration on hatching outcome and chick quality of hatchability eggs. This can be explained by the difference in vibration levels that were applied experimentally by Donofre et al (2017), and the vibration levels from transportation of the eggs in this study.…”

“…The present findings are different from the findings of Donofre et al (2017), which indicated negative influences of excessive vibration on hatching outcome and chick quality of hatchability eggs. This can be explained by the difference in vibration levels that were applied experimentally by Donofre et al (2017), and the vibration levels from transportation of the eggs in this study. Donofre et al (2017) applied various mechanical vibration levels artificially for certain durations.…”

“…This can be explained by the difference in vibration levels that were applied experimentally by Donofre et al (2017), and the vibration levels from transportation of the eggs in this study. Donofre et al (2017) applied various mechanical vibration levels artificially for certain durations. They reported the hatchability of fertile eggs at low vibration for short duration, low vibration for long duration, high vibration for short duration, high vibration for long duration and control treatments as 93.7%, 94.4%, 92.1%, 88.9% and 94.5%, respectively.…”

“…The present weight loss ratios were greater than those of Romao et al (2008), Genchev (2009), Nowaczewski et al (2010), Nowaczki et al (2012 and Aygun & Sert (2013), but lower than those of Farghly et al (2015). Donofre (2017) reported weight loss ratios of low vibration for short duration, low vibration for long duration, high vibration for short duration, high vibration for long duration and control treatments as 6.0%, 6.5%, 10.0%, 14.8% and 6.0%, respectively.…”

Incubation and hatching conditions of laying hen chicks explain a large part of the stress effects from commercial large-scale hatcheries

“…For example, incubation temperature may affect hatch weight ( Collin et al., 2005 ), hatchability ( Collin et al., 2005 ), and plasma CORT concentration in chicken ( Yahav et al., 2004 ), whereas relative humidity affects for example hatchability ( Van der Pol et al., 2013 ), body weight ( Bruzual et al., 2000 ), and embryonic development ( Bruzual et al., 2000 ). In addition, several factors may affect the chick pre-hatch such as light ( Deng and Rogers, 2002 ; Riedstra and Groothuis, 2004 ; Özkan et al., 2012 ; Archer, 2018 ; Yu et al., 2018 ), noise ( Alladi et al., 2005 ; Chaudhury et al., 2009 ; Sanyal et al., 2013a ; Kesar, 2013 ; Roy et al., 2014 ; Donofre et al., 2020 ), gas exchange ( Camm et al., 2001 ; Rodricks et al., 2004 ), and mechanical vibrations due to for example transportation ( Torma and Kovácsné, 2012 ; Donofre et al., 2017 ). Elevated CORT concentrations in the eggs originating from the mother hens can mediate such effects, by for example increasing tonic immobility ( TI ) and decreasing feed intake in the offspring ( Eriksen et al., 2003 ; Janczak et al., 2006 ).…”