Energy utilization and heat production of embryos from eggs originating from young and old broiler breeder flocks

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the interaction between breeder age and egg size on the energy utilization (experiment 1) and heat production (experiment 2) of broiler embryos. In experiment 1, a total of 4,800 Ross-308 hatching eggs from 2 breeder ages (29 and 53 wk of age, or young and old) and, within each age, 2 egg sizes (57 to 61 g and 66 to 70 g, or small and large) were used. In experiment 2, a total of 240 Ross-308 hatching eggs from 2 breeder flocks at 29 (young) and 53 (old) wk of age, and which were selected from the same egg weight range (58 to 61 g), were tested in 2 replicate chambers. In experiment 1, it was shown that the amount of yolk relative to albumen was higher in the old flock eggs, and this effect was more pronounced in the large eggs. The old flock eggs, especially the larger egg size, contained more energy as a result of a greater yolk size. Energy utilization of the embryos was positively related to yolk size and the amount of energy transferred to yolk-free body (YFB) was largely determined by the available egg energy. The efficiency of converting egg energy into chick body energy (E(YFB)) was equal for both egg sizes and both breeder age groups. Chick YFB weight of young and old flock eggs was equal. However, dry YFB weight of chicks from old flock eggs was higher than in chicks from young flock eggs, which was associated with more protein and fat content and thus more energy accumulated into YFB. As a consequence, embryos derived from old flock eggs produced more heat from d 16 of incubation onward than those of the young flock eggs. In conclusion, the higher energy deposition into chick YFB of old flock eggs, leading to higher embryonic heat production, is the result of a higher amount of available energy in the egg and is not due to changes in E(YFB).

Effect of breeder age and storage conditions of Japanese quail eggs on hatchability, quail neonate quality, and Bursa of Fabricius characteristics

“…The results of chick weight with or without yolk sac corroborate the findings of Rocha et al (2008) and Nangsuay et al (2013), who did not observe any influence of age of broiler breeders on the weight of the yolk residue of one-day-old chicks. However, results differ from those obtained by Riccardi et al (2009), who studied the weight of the yolk residue of broiler chicks originated from breeders of different ages and found that chicks from older breeders presented greater yolk weight.…”

Effect of Incubator Type and Broiler Breeder Age on Hatchability and Chick Quality

“…However, Nangsuay et al (2013), evaluating breeders of different ages (29 and 53 weeks) and similar egg weights, did not find any differences in yolk-free chick weight. The yolkfree chick weight results obtained in the present study support the theory of Sklan et al (2003) that heavier eggs produce heavier chicks.…”

Effects of maternal dietary EPA and DHA supplementation and breeder age on embryonic and post‐hatch performance of broiler offspring

“…Late embryonic mortality was highest at 43 and 48 weeks of age. Embryos derived from old flock eggs produce more heat from d16 of incubation onwards than those of younger flock eggs (Nangsuay et al., ), and consequently, larger eggs (from older flocks) are at more risk for late term mortality (Elibol and Brake, ). It has been shown that changes in embryonic heat production influence the obtained eggshell temperature (Meijerhof and Van Beek, ), which can affect hatchability and chick quality (French, ; Lourens et al., ).…”