Effect of Disinfectants, Flock Physiological Status, Season and Storage Period of Broiler Breeder Eggs on Field Hatchability and Hatchery Operation Quality Under New-Salheya City Situation

Abstract

The present field study was conducted to determine the effects of: 1) 3 types of disinfectants ; 2) storage duration (i.e. from 1 through 6 days); 3) flock production stage (before peak, from 28 to34 weeks and at peak production stages, from 35 to 45 weeks of flock age) and 4) season (i.e. Spring and Winter) on hatchery operation quality of a Cobb broiler breeder flock. Data analyzed was comprised of about five hundred and seventy four thousand (574,000), eggs.Traits studied were percentages of on %overall (Trolley) hatchability along with fertility, clear (infertile) eggs, hatchability (%hatched chicks), %eggs losses (exploded), % Abnormal embryonic positions, %Omphalitis, %pipped eggs in addition to % early and late embryonic mortality of egg tray. The superiority in most traits has been related, generally, with Egg-Washer-Pro and Biosentry-904, followed in most traits by Virkon-S and eventually the control group. Storage period had high significant effects (P< 0.001 or P< 0.0001) on % overall (Trolley) hatchability; % apparent fertility; %infertility; hatched chicks, %late embryonic mortality and % pipped eggs traits. Results revealed generally that most hatchery measurements can be improved by storing fertile eggs for two to four days before being set in incubators. Most characteristics of incubation measurements varied significantly with flock production status (peak effect). All studied traits varied insignificantly with season effect, but % pipped eggs (P< 0.01).