Effect of storage duration on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB ‐ɑ chickens

AbstractEffect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB ‐ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.67 g) collected from a flock ofFUNAAB ‐ɑ layer breeder hens aged 32  weeks were stored in egg tray with broad end up under 16 ± 1.5°C for either 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 d. Before incubation, eight eggs from each group were evaluated for internal and external quality traits. Remaining eggs were set in an incubator and transferred into hatcher on embryonic day 18. Data collected were subjected to one‐way analysis of variance. Egg weight loss (EWL;p <  .001), surface area (p <  .001), yolk diameter (p <  .001), inner and outer blastoderm diameters (p <  .05) and dead in germ (DIG;p <  .001) increased with storage duration while yolk height (p <  .001), yolk index (p <  .001), albumen weight (p <  .05), albumen height (p <  .05), albumen index (p <  .01), Haugh's unit (HU;p <  .05), fertility (p <  .001), hatchability of set (HATCHS;p <  .001) and fertile eggs (p <  .05) decreased. Weight losses of 0, 1.2, 2.2, 3.4, 4.6 and 6.1% were recorded in egg stored for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days respectively. Eggs stored beyond 8 days exhibited higher DIG and lower HATCHS. Shell percentage in 4 days storage (11.4%) was lower (p <  .05) than in 16 days storage (13.4%). Shell thickness was similar in eggs stored for 0 to 12 days, b...
Source: Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition - Category: Zoology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research