Efficiency of eggs incubation of the parent stock «Cobb-500» depending on the hens age and saving period

Abstract

The efficiency of the hatchery is determined by the quality indicators of the hatching eggs and the technology of incubation. Therefore, studies aimed at determining the optimal quality indicators of hatching eggs and technological solutions for their incubation are relevant. Eggs of hens of the meat cross Kobb-500 at the ages of 26-, 37-, 48-, 51- and 63 weeks were incubated after their pre-incubation storage for 4, 5, 7 and 8 days. Depending on the age of the hens were found the significant variation of the level of fertilization of eggs. The highest level (95,5 ... 96,5%) of fertilization of eggs was established at the incubation of eggs of hens at 37 weeks of age. A significant decrease was observed in the 63-week-old hens. It was found that with an increase of storage term of hatching eggs, the level of hatchability of eggs and chicken hatching decreases. Depending on the age of the hens, a variation in these indicators was noted. The highest level of hatchability of eggs of 26-week-old hens was established during their storage at 5 and 8 days (90.6 and 90.3%). The level of hatchability of eggs of 37-51 week-old hens varies within 86,4 ... 95,47%. The highest values of this indicator were set at incubation of eggs of 37-48 week-old hens. For poultry at the end of productive use (63 weeks), the hatchability egg rate is lower - 86.4 ... 90.9%. As for the variation of the index of hatchability depending on the storage terms, for each age group the difference was 2.32 ... 3.96%. There was no decrease in the rate of hatchability with an increase in storage terms from 4 to 8 days. This demonstrates the feasibility of storing eggs throughout this period. When incubating eggs obtained from a young hens, the number of “dead-in-shell” and “late dead” is higher in comparison with other experimental groups. When incubating eggs obtained from hens at the age of 51-63 weeks, the number of weak chickens increases (up to 1.99%). This is especially evident when extending egg storage to 7-8 days. Therefore, when assessing the incubation quality of eggs of the specialized meat cross “Cobb-500” with a storage term of 4-8 days the age of the parent stock is decisive.