Abstract
Egg storage longer than 7 d is associated with a delay in hatch time, and a decline in
hatchability and chick quality. During egg storage, embryo viability declines due to an
increase in cell death. Albumen quality, which affects the micro environment of the embryo,
declines as well due to a rise in albumen pH and a decline in albumen viscosity. Whether the
change in albumen quality affects embryo viability is unknown. An experiment was
conducted to investigate the effect of high CO2 concentrations or high N2 concentration
during storage on albumen quality, hatchability and chick quality. A high CO2 concentration
reduces CO2 loss from the egg and therefore maintains albumen quality. A high N2
concentration reduces the availability of oxygen. Eggs were stored for 14 d in 4 different
storage conditions: normal air (control), 0.75% CO2, 1.5% CO2, and 95.8% N2. Storage
temperature was 16°C and relative humidity was 75%. During incubation, eggshell
temperature was maintained at 37.8°C, relative humidity varied between 45-60%, and carbon
dioxide level was held below 0.35%. Albumen quality was measured at oviposition and at the
end of storage. Hatchability of fertile eggs was calculated and chick quality was measured 12
h after the chick emerged from the eggshell. At the end of storage, the control and N2 groups
had a higher albumen pH (9.43 and 9.59, respectively) than the 0.75% and 1.5% CO2 groups
(8.70 and 8.48, respectively; P
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Abstracts of the 4th workshop on Fundamental Physiology and Perinatal Development in Poultry, Bratislava, Slovakia, 10-12 September 2009 |
Pages | 41-41 |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Event | 4th workshop on Fundamental Physiology and Perinatal Development in Poultry, Bratislava, Slovakia - Duration: 10 Sep 2009 → 12 Sep 2009 |
Workshop
Workshop | 4th workshop on Fundamental Physiology and Perinatal Development in Poultry, Bratislava, Slovakia |
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Period | 10/09/09 → 12/09/09 |