Effect of egg weight and maternal flock age on egg characteristics, incubation traits, and offspring performance

IF 1.4 4区农林科学 Q2 Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Animal Production Science Pub Date : 2024-08-13 DOI:10.1071/an24148

Filipe Augusto Moreno, Fabiano Dahlke, Leandro Nagae Kuritza, Marcus Vinícius Niz Alvarez, Isabella de Camargo Dias, Alex Maiorka

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Context

There are pre-hatch factors that can influence performance during the growing phase, such as the egg size and breeder age.

Aims

Investigate the influence of egg weight and flock age separately on egg characteristics, hatching traits, hatchling weight, and initial offspring performance.

Methods

Treatments consisted of eggs laid by 28-week-old (Y), 42-week-old (M), or 61-week-old (O) broiler breeder hens and different egg-weight classes, light (L, 56.6–62.2 g), average (A, 62.3–67.9 g), or heavy (H, 68–73.6 g). Eggs of a similar weight from hens of different ages (treatments YA/ML, YH/MA/OL, and MA/OA) were selected, which allowed us to assess specifically the effect of maternal flock age on the following variables: egg characteristics (eggshell, yolk, and albumen), incubation traits (egg weight loss (EWL), and hatchability), hatchling weight, and live performance of the progeny (7, 14 and 21 days). When data satisfied homogeneity of variance, they were submitted to the one-way ANOVA, and means were compared by Tukey’s test at 5% probability level.

Key results

Eggshell thickness and albumen height were lower, but albumen weight, yolk weight, and percentage of yolk were higher in eggs produced by older flocks. When eggs of the same weight were evaluated, the variables were also affected by flock ages. EWL increased with the hen age. The age of the hen and egg weight significantly affect the hatchability and hatchling weight. The maximum hatchability was recorded in eggs from broiler breeders at the age of 42 weeks (90.53%). In the average egg-size group (62.3–67.9 g), the young hens produced the lightest chick, and the old flock had the worst hatchability. Broiler’s performance was influenced both by flock age and egg weight.

Conclusions

The eggshell thickness is mainly influenced by the egg size. However, other egg features are affected by flock age. EWL and chick weight are reduced in young flocks. The oldest flocks produced heavier chicks and the positive effect on feed intake and bodyweight remained until 14 days of age.

Implications

Egg size and broiler breeder age can influence the egg traits and performance of broilers.

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鸡蛋重量和母鸡群年龄对鸡蛋特性、孵化特征和后代表现的影响

背景孵化前的一些因素会影响生长阶段的表现，如种蛋大小和种鸡年龄。目的分别研究蛋重和鸡群日龄对蛋的特性、孵化性状、孵化体重和初始后代表现的影响。方法处理包括 28 周龄（Y）、42 周龄（M）或 61 周龄（O）肉用种鸡所产的蛋，以及不同的蛋重等级：轻型（L，56.6-62.2 克）、中型（A，62.3-67.9 克）或重型（H，68-73.6 克）。从不同年龄的母鸡（处理 YA/ML、YH/MA/OL 和 MA/OA）中选择重量相近的鸡蛋，这样我们就可以具体评估母鸡群年龄对以下变量的影响：鸡蛋特性（蛋壳、蛋黄和蛋白）、孵化特性（鸡蛋失重（EWL）和孵化率）、孵化体重和后代的生活性能（7、14 和 21 天）。当数据满足方差均一性时，将其纳入单因素方差分析，并在 5%的概率水平上用 Tukey 检验比较均值。主要结果老鸡群生产的鸡蛋蛋壳厚度和蛋白高度较低，但蛋白重量、蛋黄重量和蛋黄百分比较高。对相同重量的鸡蛋进行评估时，这些变量也受到鸡群年龄的影响。蛋重随着母鸡年龄的增加而增加。母鸡年龄和蛋重对孵化率和雏鸡重量有显著影响。42 周龄肉种鸡的蛋孵化率最高（90.53%）。在平均蛋重（62.3-67.9 克）组中，年轻母鸡生产的雏鸡最轻，而老鸡群的孵化率最差。肉鸡的生产性能受鸡群年龄和蛋重的影响。结论蛋壳厚度主要受鸡蛋大小的影响。然而，蛋的其他特征也受鸡群年龄的影响。年轻鸡群的蛋重和雏鸡体重都有所下降。最老的鸡群产的雏鸡更重，对采食量和体重的积极影响一直持续到 14 日龄。意义鸡蛋大小和肉种鸡年龄会影响鸡蛋特性和肉鸡的生产性能。

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来源期刊

Animal Production Science Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Food Science

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

7.10%

发文量

139

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Research papers in Animal Production Science focus on improving livestock and food production, and on the social and economic issues that influence primary producers. The journal (formerly known as Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture) is predominantly concerned with domesticated animals (beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry); however, contributions on horses and wild animals may be published where relevant. Animal Production Science is published with the endorsement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Academy of Science.