Effects of Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage (SPIDES) in Prolonged Stored Eggs of Late DeKalb Breeder on Hatchability, Embryonic Mortality and Chick Quality

The objective of this study was to study the effects of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) of late DeKalb breeder, age and storage period on the hatchability, embryo mortality and chick quality. A total of ۸۱۰ fertile eggs were randomly selected and allocated into three groups (۲۷۰ eggs each). Each group was distributed in a ۳ x ۳ x ۳ factorial experiment in a complete randomized design with three warming treatments (۰, ۶۰ and ۱۲۰ minutes daily at ۳۷.۵○ C and ۵۳% RH), age (۷۵, ۸۰, and ۸۵ weeks) and three storage periods (۴, ۹ and ۱۴ days ۱۸○ C and ۷۵%). Each treatment was replicated three times with ten eggs each. Fertility and hatchability of both fertile and total eggs were determined. Embryo mortality was determined in non-hatched eggs. All hatched chicks were weighed and graded to first or second grade chick. Results indicated that SPIDES for ۶۰ minutes significantly improved the hatchability, reduced early dead embryos and total unhatched eggs and chick quality as compared to non-heated eggs or SPIDES for ۱۲۰ minutes. The obtained results indicated that the daily SPIDES for ۶۰ minutes significantly (P ≤ ۰.۰۱) reduced embryonic mortality during the three incubation periods. The lower embryonic mortality was observed for ۷۵ week old breeders and for eggs stored for ۴ days. Moreover, SPIDES eggs for ۶۰ minutes significantly (P ≤ ۰.۰۱) improved hatchability and chick quality percentages. Also the best hatchability and chick quality percentages were observed for the breeder of ۷۵ week of age. Eggs stored for ۴ days reported the best hatchability and chick quality percentages. In conclusion, daily SPIDES of late DeKalb breeder hatching eggs for ۶۰ minutes at ۳۷.۵° C and ۵۳% RH could be used by the poultry industry as a method to improve hatchability and increased the number of saleable first grade chicks which by far increases profits of eggs stored for longer periods.The objective of this study was to study the effects of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) of late DeKalb breeder, age and storage period on the hatchability, embryo mortality and chick quality. A total of ۸۱۰ fertile eggs were randomly selected and allocated into three groups (۲۷۰ eggs each). Each group was distributed in a ۳ x ۳ x ۳ factorial experiment in a complete randomized design with three warming treatments (۰, ۶۰ and ۱۲۰ minutes daily at ۳۷.۵○ C and ۵۳% RH), age (۷۵, ۸۰, and ۸۵ weeks) and three storage periods (۴, ۹ and ۱۴ days ۱۸○ C and ۷۵%). Each treatment was replicated three times with ten eggs each. Fertility and hatchability of both fertile and total eggs were determined. Embryo mortality was determined in non-hatched eggs. All hatched chicks were weighed and graded to first or second grade chick. Results indicated that SPIDES for ۶۰ minutes significantly improved the hatchability, reduced early dead embryos and total unhatched eggs and chick quality as compared to non-heated eggs or SPIDES for ۱۲۰ minutes. The obtained results indicated that the daily SPIDES for ۶۰ minutes significantly (P ≤ ۰.۰۱) reduced embryonic mortality during the three incubation periods. The lower embryonic mortality was observed for ۷۵ week old breeders and for eggs stored for ۴ days. Moreover, SPIDES eggs for ۶۰ minutes significantly (P ≤ ۰.۰۱) improved hatchability and chick quality percentages. Also the best hatchability and chick quality percentages were observed for the breeder of ۷۵ week of age. Eggs stored for ۴ days reported the best hatchability and chick quality percentages. In conclusion, daily SPIDES of late DeKalb breeder hatching eggs for ۶۰ minutes at ۳۷.۵° C and ۵۳% RH could be used by the poultry industry as a method to improve hatchability and increased the number of saleable first grade chicks which by far increases profits of eggs stored for longer periods.

Keywords:

Incubation , SPIDES , Egg storage periods , Embryonic mortality , Hatchability , Chick quality