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Effect on time between oviposition and the beginning of cool storage on hatchability of broiler breeder eggs

M.A. Fiuza L.J.C. Lara C.A.L. Aguilar B.R.C. Ribeiro N.C. Baião About the authors

The effect on hatchability of time post-oviposition until initiation of cool storage was examined using 2,742 eggs from 31-week-old Ross hens. Treatments were defined by the length of time that eggs remained at breeder house temperature, prior to cool storage. In treatments A, B and C, respectively, eggs were taken to the cooling room immediately after collection, after 5 hours in the aviary or after 10 hours in the aviary. From each treatment, 860 eggs were distributed into 10 replicates of 86 eggs each and stored for 4 days at 18.2 - 21.0ºC and 75% humidity. After cool storage, they were incubated. Embryo mortality in treatment A was higher than in B (P<0.05). The hatchability of eggs of treatment B was higher (P<0.05) than that of treatment A. Average chick weight at hatching was higher for treatment A than for treatment C (P<0.05). Eggs that were cooled beginning five hours after oviposition produced the highest incubation yield.

broiler breeder; egg; hatchability; embryo mortality; cool storage


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