No abstract

This research was carried out to investigate the correlations among age, yolk fatty acids content, and incubation results of broiler breeders. Egg samples were obtained from Ross 308 broiler breeder parent stock at 28, 45, and 65 wk of age. A total of 1,800 eggs were used for incubation results of each age period. The mean values of hatchability of fertile eggs (H/F) were 94.04 +/- 0.42, 91.36 +/- 1.08, 85.97 +/- 0.96%, values for hatchability of total eggs (H) were 92.00 +/- 0.47, 83.61 +/- 1.23, 62.78 +/- 1.57%, and fertility ratios (F) were 97.83 +/- 0.30, 91.50 +/- 0.54, and 73.00 +/- 1.55% at 28, 45, and 65 wk of age, respectively (P < 0.01). The mean values of early embryonic mortality and hatched chick weight were 2.73 +/- 0.27, 4.01 +/- 0.56, 8.93 +/- 0.89% and 36.58 +/- 0.51, 42.47 +/- 0.48, 45.31 +/- 0.96 g, at 28, 45, and 65 wk of age, respectively (P < 0.01). Myristic acid and linoleic acid contents of yolk significantly decreased with increasing age of broiler breeder (P < 0.01). The mean yolk myristic acid contents were 0.34 +/- 0.02, 0.29 +/- 0.06, and 0.24 +/- 0.01 mg/g, and linoleic acid contents were 21.60 +/- 1.26, 16.05 +/- 3.04, and 13.87 +/- 0.49 mg/g at 28, 45, and 65 wk of age, respectively (P < 0.01). Correlations between breeder age and myristic acid and linoleic acid (r = -0.317 and -0.435, respectively) were significant when data were pooled from 28 to 65 wk of age. Significant correlations between H/F and myristic acid and linoleic acid were determined. The correlation between F and linoleic acid (r = 0.364; P < 0.05) was found to be significant with the change of breeder age. There were negative correlations between late embryonic mortality and myristic acid (r = -0.432; P < 0.05), stearic acid (r = -0.437; P < 0.05), and linoleic acid (r = -0.469; P < 0.5) at 28 to 65 wk of age. The findings from this study will contribute to the hatcheries of the poultry sector and the new studies that are going to be carried out..

1. The object of this research was to investigate the effects of high altitude with supplementary oxygen during the last stage of incubation of broiler eggs laid at low altitude and incubated at low and high altitude. We analysed thyroid hormones and haematological variables. 2. The treatment groups were: low altitude (LA), high altitude with oxygen supplementation in the hatcher (HA-OX) and high altitude non-oxygen-supplemented (HA-NOX). 3. High altitude affected relative egg weight loss and early embryonic mortality. The hatchability of fertile eggs was lower at high than at low altitude. 4. Oxygen supplementation into the hatcher cabinet during the last stage of incubation decreased late embryonic mortality ratio (LEM(1)) and improved survival rates of embryos incubated at high altitude. 5. Eggs incubated at low altitude had a higher hatched chick weight and relative chick weight than those incubated at high altitude. Hatched chick weight and relative chick weight did not change with oxygen supplementation at high altitude. 6. High altitude caused an increase in plasma T(3) and T(4) concentrations as well as in the ratio of T(3):T(4) in embryos. High altitude newly hatched chicks showed a higher T(3):T(4) ratio than low altitude chicks; this ratio decreased with oxygen supplementation at high altitude. Altitude and oxygen supplementation did not affect the mean plasma T(4). 7. Newly-hatched chicks incubated at high altitude showed a higher plasma haematocrit (PCV) than the newly-hatched chicks from eggs incubated at low altitude. High altitude without supplementation increased haemoglobin (Hb), while oxygen supplementation returned the value to low altitude values.

-The present study was conducted to determine the possible use of supplemental oxygen treatment during the last 3 days of incubation on broiler performance, ascites susceptibility and some physiological traits. On the 18th day of incubation, fertile eggs were divided into two groups. From 18 to 21 d, the eggs were placed in two hatcher cabinets: one being a control at normal atmospheric conditions, 20.9 ± 0.5% at 754 ± 2 mm Hg and the other supplemented with oxygen at 23.0 ± 0.5%. Oxygen supplementation had a significant effect on initial chick weight. At 6 weeks of age, body weight, growth rate, and feed consumption increased as partial pressure of O 2 rose from 20.9 to 23.0%. Feed conversion ratio decreased with the increasing partial pressure of oxygen. In the present study, general mortality and mortality due to ascites did not differ between the groups. At 5 weeks of age, oxygen supplementation did not cause significant changes in RBC (red blood cell count), Hb (hemoglobin) and Glucose. However, PCV (hematocrit) increased significantly as the partial pressure O 2 rose from 20.9 to 23.0%. There were no differences in the right ventricle, left ventricle + septum, total ventricle and RV:TV (right ventricle:total ventricle) ratio between the oxygen supplemented and control group. mortalité en général et la mortalité due à l'ascite en particulier n'ont pas différé entre les groupes. A cinq semaines d'âge, l'apport d'oxygène n'a provoqué aucun changement significatif pour la numération des globules rouges, le taux d'hémoglobine et de glucose. Toutefois, l'hématocrite a été sensiblement augmenté lorsque la pression partielle d'O 2 est passée de 20,9 à 23,0 %. Aucune différence significative n'a été observée entre les deux groupes pour le poids du ventricule droit, le poids du ventricule gauche + septum interventriculaire, le poids ventriculaire total et le rapport du poids du ventricule droit au poids ventriculaire total (VD/VT). apport d'oxygène / ascite / ascite d'origine cardiaque / paramètres physiologiques / poulet de chair

1. A total of 420 male 1-d-old chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. Two diets that were low in fats and high in cereals, and free from growth promoters and animal protein, and formulated at two energy and protein concentrations, were fed ad libitum or 80% of ad libitum. The birds had access to pasture from 14 d to slaughter at 84 d of age. 2. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum), High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). 3. Daily weight gains and feed consumptions were recorded in each replicate. 4. The live weight on d 84 was lowest in the Dilute-R group, whereas the highest live weight was in the High-AL group. The highest feed consumption was found in the Dilute-AL and High-AL groups. The worst feed conversion ratio was determined in the Dilute-AL and Dilute-R groups. The effect of treatments on mortality was not significant. 5. The best feed conversion efficiency was obtained in the feed-restricted group receiving the high energy and protein diet. The results suggest that forage may contribute to the nutrition of slow-growing free range broiler chickens if suitable pasture species are grown.