Effect of storage and preincubation on hatching egg quality and hatchability in meat type chicken

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of hatching eggs storage and their preincubation on eggs quality, hatchability and one-day old chick weight in young meat-type ROSS 308 parent stock, 31 weeks of age. Total of 1920 hatching eggs were used in this experiment for incubation, for egg quality analysis. Eggs were divided into three groups and stored for 21 days. Group P0 was not treated by preincubation. Group P1 contained hatching eggs which were preincubated once at the fifth of storage. Group P2 contained hatching eggs which were preincubated at days 5 and 10 during storage period. Egg quality was analysed for fresh eggs too. Long storage and repeated preincubation decreased both egg weight and yolk dry matter (P <0.05). After application of preincubation, the degree of embryonic development significantly increased (P <0.05). Preincubation and 21day storage of hatching eggs had no effect on hatchability and embryonic mortality. The weight of day-old chicks significantly decreased in chicks hatched form eggs twice treaded by preincubation.