• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.499-503
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• 1994

One thousand and eighty eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were set into the incubator maintaining 36 treatment groups (3 egg weight groups ${\times}3$ seasons ${\times}4$ preincubation holding periods) to evaluate their hatchability performances. Holding periods had significant (p<0.05) effect on hatchability and the seasons showed significant (p<0.05) effect on chick weight. All the parameters (except fertility) were significantly (p<0.01) influenced by the egg weight. None of the parameters maintained regular trend with egg weight and pre-incubation holding periods. Significant interactions were not observed on any of the parameters (except fertility) studied. The egg weight maintained significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with fertility and positive correlation with chick weight. Eggs of medium weight (9.10 to 10.00 cm) could be hatched satisfactorily between 4 and 7 days of pre-incubation holding periods in any season of the year.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

Eggs obtained from 46 and 42 weeks old meat (Hybro) and layer (Leghorn) breeders flocks, respectively were used to examine the effects of genetic type of birds and egg size (small, medium and large) on variables of eggshell characteristics and hatchability traits. The variables measured were egg weight (EW), egg surface area (ESA) and eggshell characteristics (shell conductance (EC), per cent shell (PS), shell thickness (ST), shell volume (SV), shell density (SD) and hatchability traits (per cent hatchability (HP), early dead embryos (ED), late dead embryos (LD), pips with live embryos (PL) and pips with dead embryos (PD)). Genetic type of bird influenced all egg characteristics and HP of eggs. Eggs produced by the small Leghorn bird had lower EW, ESA, EC, ST, SV and HP than those produced by the heavy Hybro bird. The reduction of HP was associated with an increase in the percentage of ED and PL. Egg size influenced all variables measured except ST. Small size eggs had lower EW, ESA and EC and higher PS and SD than those of large eggs. Medium size eggs produced a higher HP when compared with that of large size eggs. The reduction of HP in large eggs was associated with higher percentage of ED, LD and PL. There were significant interactions between the genetic group of birds and egg size on LD and HP. Large egg size of Hybro birds had higher LD and lower HP than those of small size eggs produced by the same flock. However, There was no difference in HP and LD among the different egg sizes produced by Leghorn birds. It was concluded that genetic make up of birds and egg size influence eggshell characteristics and HP. The type of bird (heavy or small) influences the optimum egg size for successful hatching. Attention should be given to the size and eggshell characteristics of eggs of breeders' flocks for achieving maximum HP.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 2010

The effects of controlled energy restriction and duration of pre-incubation egg holding on fertility, hatchability and hatch losses were evaluated in aged broiler breeders (64 wk). The energy (ME) required for maintenance, activity, growth and anticipated egg production was calculated and offered to a control group (283-471 kcal/kg) from 21-64 weeks of age. In three other groups, ME was quantitatively reduced either by 20% (SER; severe energy restriction) or 10% (MER; moderate energy restriction) and increased by10% (EEF; excess energy feeding) over the control group (CER; controlled energy restriction). Each diet was offered to 130 pullets in individual cages, and the quantity of ME increased with age. At the end of 64 weeks, fertile eggs were collected from each dietary group for 11 consecutive days and grouped under 4 holding periods based on the length of storage (2, 5, 8 or 11 d). The influence of energy regimes, egg holding intervals and their interaction was evaluated on fertility, hatch losses and hatchability. Broiler breeders maintained on SER regime (231-419 kcal/d) produced maximum number of eggs (993) followed by MER (819), CER (624) and EEF (438) during the 11-day period. The percent fertility and hatchability was significantly (p$\leq$0.05) higher in SER and MER groups compared to CER and EEF. However, energy regimes did not influence the loss in egg weight during pre-incubation storage, shell weight, shell thickness or hatch losses as dead germs and dead in shell. The improvement in hatchability in SER and MER groups appeared to be closely related to higher fertility and lower embryonic mortality. Holding of eggs for 11 days showed a linear loss in egg weight with the length of storage, but did not influence the fertility and hatch losses. The percent hatchability on eggs set was maximum when storage period was restricted to 5 days. The interaction between energy regimes and egg holding periods exhibited better hatchability results with SER regime when eggs were held for 5 days. Response to MER was not different from SER. It was obvious that energy restriction during production period had a positive influence on egg number, fertility and hatchability in aged breeders. At 64 weeks of age, holding of fertile eggs for 5 days prior to incubation was adequate for optimum hatchability in breeders.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.234-239
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• 2010

Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and vitamin E (VE) supplementation in the diet of breeder hens on the egg quality and hatchability, lipid peroxides of the egg yolk, and development of the newly-hatched offspring chicks were investigated. A total of 800 Avian 48, 28 wk-old broiler breeders were assigned randomly to 4 groups with 4 replicates of 45 females and 5 males. Each group was fed one of the following four diets with different oil sources and levels of VE: corn oil (CO), fish oil (FO), CO+VE and FO+VE. The results showed that: i) Addition of FO in the breeder diet reduced the whole egg weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk color score and neonatal offspring chick body weight without affecting the hatchability as compared to the CO treatment. ii) Addition of VE efficiently reduced the lipid peroxides of egg yolk from hens fed diets containing FO. iii) VE in the breeder diet significantly promoted the development of liver and heart of the chick offspring.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.369-374
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the hatchability and infertility of the ostrich eggs. Seven batches of ostrich eggs were imported from Australia into Korea in winter season under quarantine restrictions. Single stage incubation was carried out and the eggs were weighed before incubation. The weight of imported ostrich eggs was varied from 1,074 to over 1,650g and the average egg weights for batches were similar. The hatchability of all eggs batch was reached between 11 and 31%. The infertility of seven batches was varied from 36 to 63%. The first batch of eggs showed relatively low infertility(39％) and high hatchability (31％). On the contrary, the last batch of eggs had low Infertility(36%), and it had the lowest hatchability(11%). The result of this study suggests that hatchability of ostrich eggs imported in late laying season is significantly low because the number of infertile eggs is increased.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1367-1373
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of heating hatching eggs on the number of day-old chicks, egg temperature and egg weight during extended storage, and to provide basic information for improving hatchability to livestock producers. Eggs (Hy-line) were subjected to the following treatments: "control": eggs were maintained in an incubator after storage for 8 days; "T1": eggs were preheated for 8 hours at $23.9^{\circ}C$ after storage for 8 days in a hatchery; "T2": eggs were initially heated for 8 hours at $37.8^{\circ}C$ in an incubator and then preheated for 8 hours at $23.9^{\circ}C$ in a hatchery after storage for 8 days. The results were as follows: First, at the end of the experiment, the total number of day-old chicks was higher in T1, followed by T2 and then the control. This indicated that chick hatchability may be improved when eggs are preheated. Second, compared with the control, the number of day-old female chicks was expected to be higher in treatments with pre-heating; however, the results indicated the opposite effect. Third, as storage time lengthened, the factor that influenced preheating (the main effect and interactions) was not egg weight but egg temperature measured in the upper, middle and bottom parts of incubator. The temperatures recorded in all treatments ranged from 37.97 to $38.40^{\circ}C$ in the upper parts of incubator, 37.80 to $38.26^{\circ}C$ in the middle parts of incubator, and 37.94 to $38.59^{\circ}C$ in the bottom parts of incubator over storage. In conclusion, preheating was very effective in improving hatchability, and egg temperature was the main factor affecting preheating and hatchability.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of semen and egg storage period on hatchability of Korean native chicken(KNC, 44-wk old). The body weight, volume of semen, concentration of spermatozoa, total sperm of an ejaculate, motility of sperm and percentage of fertile eggs were 2,555.89g, 0.473$m\ell$, 30.81${\times}$10(sup)8/$m\ell$, 13.14${\times}$10(sup)8 cells, 3.58 and 91.69%, respectively, in KNC. The percentage of fertile eggs were 87.9∼96.0% on storage period in KNC. The viability and hatchability were 80.2%. 74.6%, respectively, in storage period for 22 days in storage temperature of 11∼14$^{\circ}C$. The results of the trial show that viability can be get more than 80% in storage period for 3 weeks in storage temperature of about 13$^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2006

A total of 120 male and 240 female quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) were used to determine the effect of feeding time on laying and reproductive performance of Pharaoh quail. They were fed ad libitum between 09:00 to 17:00 or full day, daily. Each female-male pair was housed in multiple-bird cages and colony cages. Initial and final body weight, quail-day egg production, feed consumption per egg and mortality were measured to determine laying performance of breeders. A total of 960 eggs were used to determine reproductive performance of quail in each treatment group. Eggs were incubated in a commercial setter and hatcher in standard conditions. Embryonic mortality, apparent fertility, hatchability of total and fertile eggs were calculated to determine the reproductive performance. Results indicated that feeding between 09:00 to 17:00 h reduced final body weight and egg production (p<0.001, p<0.001). Whereas, limited time of feeding improved hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001) and reduced embryonic mortality (p<0.001) when compared with the effects of feeding full day. It was found that there were no significant differences for the egg production of quail housed in different cage systems. Quail caged in multiple-bird cages consumed less feed (p<0.01) compared to quail housed in colony cages. There were significant differences for the mortality (p<0.05), hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001), and embryonic mortality (p<0.001) during the incubation due to main effect of cage systems. There were significant cage $systems{\times}feeding$ time interactions for hatchability of total and fertile eggs and embryonic mortality (p<0.001). As a conclusion; feeding from 09:00 to 17:00 reduced laying performance of quail and improved the reproductive traits compared to full day feeding of quail breeders. But, further investigations are needed to determine the optimum length of feeding time and egg production of breeders in quail fed limited time must be evaluated in comparison with its beneficial or detrimental effects.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

This study was performed to evaluate effects of different holding temperatures and storing periods during the pre-incubation period on egg hatchability of hens egg in broiler breeders. For the treatments 1(T1)~7(T7), which were stored fur 1(T1) to 7 days(T7) before egg incubation, respectively. There were three replicates per treatment and forty eggs per replicate. This study was performed twice, which were 40(Summer) and 50 weeks of age(Autumn) in broiler breeders. Storing ambient temperature of egg, egg weight, at 0 and 18 days during incubation, fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were examined. Average hatchability was rapidly decreased only in Summer. Although it was not significantly different in Autumn. This experiment was concluded that storing periods of hatchery egg was influenced hatchability, especially in high ambient temperature conditions(Summer, above $25^{\circ}C$ ). In conclusion, we found out that optimum hatchability can be achieved with a storage temperature of 13 ~$19^{\circ}C$ for broiler breeder eggs stored for up to 7 days.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.944-950
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• 1999

Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) was fed to one day old chicks of Gallus domesticus in the form of different concentrations (250 and 500 mg/kg feed) of potassium dichromate mixed with the feed, ad libitum, for 32 weeks. After 20 weeks of feeding, the total body weight was higher in the low dose (260 mg/kg (feed) group and lower in the high dose (500 mg/kg feed) group, as compared with the control chicks. After 32 weeks of feeding, however, the total body weight was significantly decreased in both the treated groups. Egg laying was enhanced. Fertility remained unaffected, whereas hatchability was considerably decreased after CrVI-treatment. The egg shell thickness increased significantly (13%). Cr was deposited in a dose dependent manner in the liver and lungs. Some structural derangements in liver were also noted in treated chicks. The results of this study i.e., rapid ageing, excessive Cr deposition, decreased hatchability and hepatotoxicity indicate toxic effects of CrVI.