Hatching egg and newly hatched chick yolk sac total IgY content at 3 broiler breeder flock ages.

During the first week of the posthatching period, before the immune system is mature enough to produce its own B lymphocytes, a chick's humoral immunity depends on maternal antibodies (IgY) received from the egg yolk. During incubation and after hatching, the yolk sac (YS) membrane transfers nutrients (including IgY) from the egg yolk to the developing embryo or newly hatched chick. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of breeder flock age on the total IgY content of egg yolks and chick YS from a commercial broiler breeder strain.

Broiler egg storage induces cell death and influences embryo quality.

It is well known that egg storage reduces embryo performance, but the fundamental reasons for reduced embryo quality remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate possible cellular and molecular mechanisms that might reduce embryo quality after egg storage. Broiler hatching eggs were obtained from the Ross 308 broiler strain, divided into 2 groups, and stored (4 and 14 d) under the same temperature and humidity conditions.

Influence of parent flock age on embryonic metabolism in modern turkey strains.

The metabolic response of some galliform embryos to embryonic heat production (EHP) and how incubation conditions have been adjusted to prevent overheating of embryos is well established in broiler breeders. However, the daily metabolic status of turkey embryos has not been studied or established in turkey embryos. The objectives of the current research were therefore to determine the respiratory (eggshell conductance, G) and metabolic status (EHP) of 2 modern turkey genetic strains [Hybrid (H) and Nicholas (N)] and 4 parent flock ages [young (Y, 30 wk), peak (P, 34 wk), mature (M, 55 wk), and old (O, 60 wk)] during incubation.

Hatching egg characteristics, chick quality, and broiler performance at 2 breeder flock ages and from 3 egg weights.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of flock age and egg weight on hatching egg characteristics, fertility, hatchability, salable chick production, and broiler performance using a commercial Cobb 500 broiler breeder flock. Hatching eggs from the same breeder flock in 3 weight categories (light, average, and heavy) were obtained from a commercial hatchery when the birds were 29 and 59 wk of age. One group of eggs per age and weight category was selected to assess specific gravity and was broken open to weigh egg components.

Dissociation of chicken blastoderm for examination of apoptosis and necrosis by flow cytometry.

We describe a method of isolating blastodermal cells for characterization through flow cytometry. Particular attention was placed on cell viability and integrity issues faced by conventional protocols. The method allowed us to examine mechanisms behind cellular death.

Impaired intestinal villi growth in broiler chicks with unhealed navels.

By the time of hatching, the residual yolk sac (RYS) should be completely internalized into the body cavity of the chick via the navel and the navel should be closed (healed). After hatching, the RYS contents are used for general growth and development including growth of the small intestine. This research examined the relationship between the presence of navel buttons (an unhealed navel covered with a scab) and the RYS weight and intestinal villi height of broiler chicks from 0 to 5 d posthatching.

Spraying hatching eggs with electrolyzed oxidizing water reduces eggshell microbial load without compromising broiler production parameters.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether spraying hatching eggs with electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water would decrease eggshell microbial load and hence improve hatchability, chick quality, and broiler growth performance. Eggs were collected from a broiler breeder flock; half the eggs were sprayed with EO water and the other half were left untreated. Enterobacteriaceae and total aerobic bacteria present on the eggshells of eggs from both treatments were enumerated.

Evaluating broiler growth and mortality in chicks with minor navel conditions at hatching.

As commercial hatcheries become more automated, there are fewer opportunities for chicks with minor unhealed navel conditions to be identified and removed before being shipped to farms. An experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of common navel conditions occurring at hatching on subsequent broiler performance. In each of 2 trials, chicks with normal navels and minor navel conditions (navel button or leaky navel) were collected from a commercial hatchery on the day of hatch.

The effect of broiler breeder genetic strain and parent flock age on eggshell conductance and embryonic metabolism.

The effect of genetic strain (Ross 308; Cobb 500) and parent flock age [young (29 wk), peak (Ross = 34 wk; Cobb = 36 wk), postpeak (40 wk), mature (45 wk), old (55 wk), and very old (59 wk)] on eggshell conductance and embryonic metabolism were examined. At each flock age, eggs from each strain were incubated for 21.5 d in individual metabolic chambers to measure embryonic O(2) intake and CO(2) output.

Egg storage and the embryo.

In domestic avian species, eggs are stored at cool temperatures until they can be placed into an incubator. The low temperature-induced diapause enables the embryo to survive until optimal temperature and humidity incubation conditions can be provided to support embryonic growth. Egg storage is a logistical necessity for the hatching egg industry both at the breeder farm and at the hatchery.

Investigating the effects of commercial probiotics on broiler chick quality and production efficiency.

A study was undertaken to test the effect of 2 commercially available probiotics on the production efficiency of broiler chickens hatched from the same breeder flock at 3 different ages (28, 43, and 57 wk). At each of the 3 breeder flock ages, 1,600 broiler chickens were hatched and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) no probiotics (control), 2) probiotic 1 administered in the drinking water, 3) probiotic 1 administered as a spray, and 4) probiotic 2 administered in the feed. A coccidiostat was included in the feed, but no other antimicrobial agents were given.

Investigating the eggshell conductance and embryonic metabolism of modern and unselected domestic avian genetic strains at two flock ages.

The objective of this study was to determine if broiler strain and breeder flock age affect eggshell conductance, fertility, and hatchability parameters; heart and hepatic glycogen concentrations at hatch; and embryonic metabolism throughout incubation. The 3 broiler strains investigated were HBY, a modern commercial broiler strain selected for high breast yield; WBM, a modern commercial broiler strain selected for the whole bird market; and UN78, a female broiler parent strain unselected since 1978. Fertility and hatchability parameters for each of the 3 strains were determined when the flocks were 32, 34, 37, and 38 wk of age.

Detection and identification of Lactobacillus species in crops of broilers of different ages by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis.

The microflora of the crop was investigated throughout the broiler production period (0 to 42 days) using PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and selective bacteriological culture of lactobacilli followed by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). The birds were raised under conditions similar to those used in commercial broiler production. Lactobacilli predominated and attained populations of 10(8) to 10(9) CFU per gram of crop contents.

Egg storage alters weight of supply and demand organs of broiler chicken embryos.

Storage of fertilized eggs for more than 10 d prior to incubation decreases embryonic viability. The hypothesis was tested that embryos may grow differently following egg storage. Eggs from which embryos survived following storage (ST) were compared to eggs from a second line that did not (NOST).

Egg storage effects on plasma glucose and supply and demand tissue glycogen concentrations of broiler embryos.

The hypothesis was tested that enhanced embryonic carbohydrate metabolism may enable embryos to survive egg storage effects. As lines of broiler breeders age, some lines resist detrimental effects of egg storage on embryonic survival, whereas others do not. Fertile eggs were obtained from two lines differing in storage ability.

Prestorage incubation of long-term stored broiler breeder eggs: 1. Effects on hatchability.

Two thousand eight hundred broiler breeder eggs were used to determine if prestorage incubation (PRESI) treatments of 0, 6, 12, or 18 h (at 37.5 C) could improve the hatchability of eggs stored (at 11.5 C) for 4 vs.

Effects of light intensity from photostimulation in four strains of commercial egg layers: 2. Egg production parameters.

The effects of light intensity (LI) from photostimulation to 45 wk of age on egg production parameters and egg size characteristics were examined in four layer strains. Floor housed pullets were raised in a light-tight facility from 1 d of age until housing in individually illuminated cages at 17 wk of age. At 17 wk of age, two white egg strains, ISA-White (ISA-W) and Shaver 2000 (S2000), and two brown egg strains, ISA-Brown (ISA-B) and Shaver 579 (S579), were assigned to a processing group [Group 1 was killed at sexual maturity (first oviposition); Group 2 was kept to 45 wk] and were photostimulated at 18 wk of age using a LI of 1, 5, 50, or 500 lx (4 x 4 factorial design).

Examining the effects of prestorage incubation of turkey breeder eggs on embryonic development and hatchability of eggs stored for four or fourteen days.

Thirty-six hundred British United Turkey hatching eggs were used in two separate trials to test whether prestorage incubation (PRESI) treatments of 0, 6, and 12 h (Trial 1) or 0, 7, and 14 h (Trial 2) could improve the hatchability of eggs stored (17 C) for 14 versus 4 d. The development of the embryos (n = 30) was staged before and after exposing eggs to the various PRESI treatments. Embryonic development was also established after storage to ascertain whether embryonic development was occurring during storage.

Research note: variability in preincubation embryonic development in domestic fowl. 2. Effects of duration of egg storage period.

Embryos of eggs from Single Comb White Leghorn hens were analyzed to determine whether duration of egg storage significantly affects embryonic development prior to incubation. Eggs were gathered over a period of 5 days from 25-wk-old hens that were naturally inseminated and housed in floor pens. Within 1 h of oviposition the eggs were collected and assigned randomly to one of five storage treatment groups of 0, 4, 7, 14, or 21 days.

Relationship of hen age and egg sequence position with fertility, hatchability, viability, and preincubation embryonic development in broiler breeders.

Indian River broiler breeder hens (n = 29) were caged individually to investigate whether hen age and egg sequence position were related significantly to the dependent variables fertility, hatchability, viability (hatch of fertile eggs), and preincubation embryonic development. Hens were artificially inseminated once per week. All eggs laid during the period of 31 to 54 wk of age were stored at 16 to 17 C for .

Variability in preincubation embryo development in domestic fowl. 1. Effects of nest holding time and method of egg storage.

Embryos of eggs from Single Comb White Leghorn hens were analyzed to determine whether nest holding time and method of storage had a significant effect on postoviposition embryonic growth prior to incubation. Eggs were collected from 38- to 42-wk-old hens naturally inseminated and housed in floor pens. The experiment had a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two nest holding times and two storage methods.