Effect of strain and age of the broiler breeder female on incubation time and chick weight

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of strain [five in Experiment (Exp.) 1 and six in Exp. 2)] and age (29, 47, and 57 wk in Exp. 1 and 29, 41, and 52 wk in Exp. 2) of commercial broiler breeders on incubation time and chick weight. Highly significant differences in egg weight were found among strains in both Exp. After adjusting for effects of egg weight, significant effects of strain, age, and their interactions were found on incubation time, egg weight at transfer, and chick weight at hatch in Exp. 1, but not in Exp. 2. Mean incubation times varied among strains from 496.6 to 498.8 h in Exp. 1 and from 499.3 to 501.9 h in the second experiment. In Exp. 1, incubation time decreased from 498.6 h when breeders were 29 wk to 494.8 at 47 wk, whereas in Exp. 2, it decreased from 510.5 h at 29 wk to 495.1 h at 41 wk. This decrease also resulted in a negative correlation between egg weight and incubation time. Differences due to strain and age were found for yolk and albumen percentage and yolk: albumen ratio. Percentage yolk was 27.2 and 32.7% and percentage albumen was 60.1 and 55.9% in eggs from 29 to 52 wk breeders, respectively. Shell percentage was significantly affected by strain. Strain by age interactions were found for each response in Exp. 1 but only for set and chick weight in Exp. 2. Differences among incubators were found only for incubation time; interactions of incubation time and strain and age were also detected. Results indicate that genotype, age of the female breeder, and incubator should be considered along with their interactions to obtain optimum hatching performance.

Compare the chick length and weights of the Ross broiler breeder in different ages and farms

“…Lapao et al and Iqbal et al showed that by increasing the age, incubation time would be decreased [7,11]. Also effect of egg weight, breed, age and interference of both, at incubation time, egg weight during transfer and chick weight during hatching were significant (P < 0.01) [7,10,11]. Totally, by increasing age of broiler breeder flock, ability of hen and cock to produce suitable egg, hatchability would be decreased.…”

“…Effect of breeder broiler age and interval of storage on the albumen properties and hatchery have been studied in a research [10]. Two tests carried out showed that through them, eggs were collected from 4 flocks of one strain which have same controlling and ration condition.…”

“…The albumen ph of eggs that was stored for 8 days was more than (%95) fresh eggs. By increasing the age, firstly hatchability increase and then decrease [10]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of breeder flock age on egg (quality and quantity) and weight and height of hatched chicks.…”

Efecto de la humedad en incubación sobre la incubabilidad y mortalidad embrionaria del pollo de engorda en el trópico seco mexicano

“…El peso de los pollos al nacimiento no mostró diferencia entre tratamiento, esto pudo ser a que ambos tratamientos provenían de la misma edad de reproductora; aunque guarda una relación directa con el peso del huevo y peso del saco vitelino (Barbosa, et al, 2012;Suárez et al;, Wilson, 1991Narahara et al, 2000). La edad de la reproductora afecta la incubabilidad, por lo que se tiene una relación lineal positiva conforme aumenta la edad de la reproductora y hay un aumento del tamaño del huevo, peso del pollo; más sin embargo hay una correlación lineal negativa entre la edad de la reproductora y la incubabilidad.…”

“…Por arriba o debajo de este punto, la viabilidad del embrión se puede ver disminuida y el porcentaje de nacimientos reducido (Michels, et al;1974;Meijerhof, 1992;Decuypere et al;1992;Phillips, et al, 1992;Suárez et al;French, 1997;Taylor, 1997;2001. El nacimiento de los pollos y el procesado posterior son cruciales para el desempeño productivo de las aves. Las aves de producción son los únicos animales que se transportan una vez que eclosionan, lo que hace que sea una experiencia importante en la vida de las aves.…”