The effects of prestorage incubation and length of storage of broiler breeder eggs on hatchability and subsequent growth performance of progeny

Abstract

A total of 1 200 broiler breeder eggs were collected from a commercial flock at the hen age of 37 weeks and divided into storage treatments of 5 and 15 days. Prior to storage, the eggs were further divided into pre-storage incubation (PRESI) 0 (control), 4 and 8 h treatments. Eggs in the 4 and 8 h PRESI treatment were incubated at a standard dry-bulb temperature of 38.0 degrees C. All eggs were weighed prior to and after storage, then incubated in a commercial setter and hatcher for 21 days. After the incubation, all unhatched eggs were opened to determine fertility, hatchability and embryonic death. The 4 and 8 h PRESI treatment significantly decreased hatchability results of long-term stored eggs compared to non-heated eggs. Hatchability results of eggs stored for 5 days were significantly better compared to eggs stored for 15 days. Subsequent growth performance of progeny was not significantly affected except for the main effect of egg storage on feed conversion. There were significant PRESI x egg storage interactions for apparent fertility, hatchability of total and fertile eggs and embryonic mortality. It was concluded that the PRESI treatment did not have a detrimental effect on the hatchability of broiler breeder eggs stored for 5 days and it might even increase hatchability while it had a detrimental effect on the hatchability of broiler breeder eggs stored for 15 days.