The Assessment of Hatch Window, Hatchability and Quality of Broiler Chicks Obtained from Different Breeder Strains in a Commercial Hatchery

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the hatch window, hatchability and quality of broilers` chick obtained from different breeder strains in a commercial hatchery. A total of 57 600 hatching eggs (28 800 hatching eggs per strain) were collected from commercial flocks of Cobb 500 and Ross 308 broiler breeder parent stocks at 60-61 weeks of age. Each strain was randomly coded as A strain and B strain. The mean value of eggshell temperature was found to be higher in eggs obtained from Strain A (101.05 ⁰F) than the other eggs of Strain B (100.98 ⁰F, P<0.01). The percentage of hatched chicks at 486 h of incubation period was found to be as 82.1% and 62.6% of Strain A and Strain B eggs respectively, whereas 84.9% and 67.7% of Strain A and Strain B eggs at 498 h of incubation period (P<0.01). The relative chick weight was found to be higher in the chicks obtained from Strain B (67.5%), compared to the Strain A (65.9%; P<0.01). These findings could be instructive for commercial hatcheries about the requirements of the hatching eggs obtained from different breeder strains at particular age and contribute the optimization of eggs` management and processing.

Keywords

• Broiler chicks
• hatch window
• eggshell temperature
• chick quality

References

1. Referans1 Abudabos, A. 2010. The effect of broiler breeder strain and parent flock age on hatchability and fertile hatchability. International Journal of Poultry Science 9: 231–235. Referans2, J.G., Vieira, S.L., Reis, R.N., Berres, J., Barros, R., Ferreira, A.K., Furtado, F.V.K. 2008. Hatching distrubution and embryo mortality of eggs laid by broiler breeders of different ages. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 10: 89–96.