The Effects of Suboptimal Eggshell Temperature During Incubation on Broiler Chick Quality, Live Performance, and Further Processing Yield

Abstract

Different incubation conditions can cause eggshell temperature (EST) to deviate from optimum. Two experiments were performed to determine the effect of low EST at the start of incubation and high EST at the end of incubation on hatchability, chick quality, 6-wk live performance, and breast meat yield of broiler chickens. In each experiment, 1,800 eggs from a single flock were divided and set into 2 setters. From 0 to 10 d of incubation, one setter was set to attain an EST of 36.6 degrees C (considered low), whereas the other was set to 37.8 degrees C (the control temperature). Using an infrared thermometer, EST was measured daily on a sample of eggs to ensure treatment intentions. On d 11 of incubation, the temperature of the low EST setter was increased to 37.8 degrees C in synchrony with the other setter until transfer. On d 18 of incubation, eggs from both setters were combined into 2 equal groups and transferred to hatchers. The EST in one hatcher was set to 37.8 degrees C (control) and in the other to 39.5 degrees C (considered high) until 21 d of incubation. Hatched males were placed in battery cages (Experiment 1) or floor pens (Experiment 2) and reared on common feeds to 1 or 6 wk of age, respectively. Low EST in the first 10 d of incubation reduced hatchability, increased BW and chick yield, and reduced 1-wk gain compared with the control EST. Throughout rearing, BW was reduced for low EST chicks compared with control EST chicks; consequently, carcass, fillet, and tender weights were also reduced. High EST in the hatcher increased hatchability, and reduced BW, chick yield, and 1-wk gain compared with control EST in the hatcher. By 3 wk of age, there was no difference in BW between chicks in high EST and control EST treatments. Subsequent carcass and processing yields were also similar. Incubation at the control EST of 37.8 degrees C, particularly from 0 to 10 d, resulted in the best performance overall.

Manipulation of Incubation Temperatures to Increase Cold Resistance of Broilers:Influence on Embryo Development, Organ Weights, Hormones and Body Composition

“…Willemsen et al (2010) reported that while cold incubated chicks had increased plasma T 3 and T 4 , there was no effect on body weights at DOH. In contrast, intermittent cold exposure of 15℃ at EA 18 and 19 (Shinder et al, 2009) and constant cold exposure of 36.6℃ from EA 1 to 10 increased chick weight (Joseph et al, 2006). We observed that lower serum free T 3 of T2 chicks from younger breeders was not associated with their body weight which was similar to that of T1, yet T2 chicks from older breeders were heavier and had numerically higher T 3 indicating an association between breeder age and response of those embryos to cooler incubation temperatures.…”

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

“…Several studies have shown that incubation temperature influences embryo development and post-hatch performance (Lourens et al, 2005(Lourens et al, , 2007Meijerhof, 2009b;Molenaar et al, 2011). In studies that compared normal eggshell temperatures (approximately 37.8°C) to high shell temperatures (38.9 to 39.5°C), chick hatching weight was lower when eggs were incubated at high eggshell temperature at the end of incubation (Lourens et al, 2005;Joseph et al, 2006; (Hulet et al, 2007;Meijerhof, 2009b). 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.…”

“…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.…”

Quality assessment chicks from different hatcher temperatures with different scoring methods and prediction of broiler growth performance

“…But, chick length was similar among groups, so the different hatcher temperatures did not affect the chick length at hatch. Similarly, Joseph et al (2006) found that higher temperature during hatching period resulted in lower chickhatching weight, but similar chick length compared to control. Similarly, in this study, chick length was similar in the treatment groups.…”