Yolk absorption and embryo development of small and large eggs originating from young and old breeder hens

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of breeder age and egg size on yolk absorption and embryo development, a total of 4,800 Ross 308 hatching eggs were subjected to 4 treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial randomized complete block design using 2 breeder ages (29 and 53 wk of age, or young and old) and 2 egg sizes (57-61 g and 66-70 g, or small and large). A significant interaction between breeder age and egg size was found for egg composition. Yolk weight increased with flock age, whereas a larger egg size resulted in higher albumen content. A significant interaction between breeder age and egg size was found for yolk-free body (YFB) weight only at d 7. Until the fourteenth day of incubation, eggs from the old flock yielded greater YFB weight than did eggs from the young flock. At hatch, chicks of both age groups had comparable wet YFB weight, chick weight, wet and dry residual yolk weight, and chick length. Dry YFB weight of chicks from the old flock was higher than that of chicks from the young flock. Compared with the small eggs, embryos and chicks of the large eggs had greater YFB weight from d 14 to hatching. At hatch, these chicks were also heavier, longer, and had higher wet and dry YFB and residual yolk weight. Yolk absorption at d 18 and at hatch of embryos and chicks of the old flock was higher than that of the young flock, both in absolute values and percentages. Rates of absolute and percentage yolk absorption through d 18 and percentage yolk absorption at hatch were higher in the small eggs than in the large eggs. It can be concluded that egg size influences chick length at hatch and embryo development when expressed in terms of total and YFB weight. Although yolk availability and rate of absorption may have influenced dry YFB weight, they did not influence hatching chick length or total and YFB weight.

Investigating the Effect of In Ovo Injection of Silver Nanoparticles on Fat Uptake and Development in Broiler and Layer Hatchlings

“…The YFBW was higher for broiler than for layer hatchlings, which is in agreement with the documented higher BW and faster development in broiler versus layer chicken embryos reported previously [7,9,17,22]. The difference in hatchling development in the present study could be associated primarily with differences in genetic background between breeder strains [19], the pattern of fat utilisation [8,9], and egg size [16].…”

“…Apart from the difference in metabolic rates, we also attributed the increase in these parameters to the bigger size of eggs and yolks in broilers that contain more fat and possibly other nutrients, being responsible for the larger weight of the YS and higher YF content in broiler hatchlings [14,16].…”

Genetic analysis for dynamic changes of egg weight in 2 chicken lines

“…Due to different size preferences, egg consumption is highly diverse around the world [e.g., many consumers prefer relatively large eggs in some Western countries, as opposed to China (Jones et al, 2001;Koelkebeck et al, 2001)]. Moreover, egg weight has been reported to have a crucial effect on chick quality including hatchability, hatch weight, fitness, and chick performance (Pinchasov, 1991;Hart-mann et al, 2003;Enting et al, 2007;Nangsuay et al, 2011). Therefore, producing eggs of appropriate size and weight is a key issue for both producers and breeders.…”

Comparative evaluation of air cell and eggshell temperature measurement methodologies used in broiler hatching eggs during late incubation ,

“…growth and metabolism (Lourens et al, 2007;Nangsuay et al, 2011); embryo energy partitioning (Lourens et al, 2011); prenatal survival rate and postnatal growth and nutrient utilization (Molenaar et al, 2010); embryogenesis, hatchability, and posthatch development (Lourens et al, 2005); the development and physiological status of perinatal hatchlings (Molenaar et al, 2011); body and organ weights of broiler chicks (Leksrisompong et al, 2007); broiler chick feed consumption and growth (Leksrisompong et al, 2009); posthatch growth performance and carcass characteristics (Hulet et al, 2007); and broiler chick quality, live performance, and further processing yield (Joseph et al, 2006). Pulikanti et al (2011a,b) have successfully used temperature transponders (TR) implanted in the AC of Ross × Ross 308 broiler hatching eggs for the detection of AC temperature.…”