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British Poultry Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cbps20
Relationship between the weight of hatching eggs and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks Y. Pinchasov
a
a
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76–100, Israel Published online: 08 Nov 2007.
To cite this article: Y. Pinchasov (1991): Relationship between the weight of hatching eggs and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks, British Poultry Science, 32:1, 109-115 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071669108417332
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-andconditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
British Poultry Science (1991) 32: 109-115
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WEIGHT OF HATCHING EGGS AND SUBSEQUENT EARLY PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS Y. PINCHASOV Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76-100, Israel
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
Received for publication 28th May 1989
Abstract 1. The effect of egg weight on the subsequent performance of individual growing chicks was studied. Eggs from commercial broiler breeder hens were collected at 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age and incubated. The chicks were reared for 18 d. 2. Egg weight and hatched chick weight were not affected by the age of the hens during the 52 to 57-week period, but there was a close correlation between egg weight and hatching weight, irrespective of the age of the hens (r=0.89). Chick:egg weight ratio at hatching was about 0.71 and independent of hen age. One d after hatching, chick weights had decreased by about 1.5 g. 3. The initial high correlation between egg weight and chick weight decreased markedly during post-hatching growth, becoming insignificant 5 d after hatching. At 18 d of age, however, chicks from eggs of older hens tended to be heavier than those from younger birds. The greater 18-d weights appeared to be associated more with higher food intake during that period, than with greater egg weight. 4. It was concluded that, in individual broiler chicks, the advantage of the initially higher weight attributable to a larger egg diminishes rapidly after hatching, and the main factor affecting final body weight is food intake.
INTRODUCTION
Egg size of broiler breeder hens increases with flock age, but varies widely at any given age (Washburn and Guill, 1974; Yannakopoulos and TserveniGousi, 1987; Robbins et ah, 1988). Because any effect of egg weight on subsequent performance of broiler chicks has an important economic impact, attention has been given to this subject since the beginning of this century (Halbersleben and Mussehl, 1922; Wiley, 1950). Although a very close correlation between egg and hatching weights has been reported (Sefton and Siegel, 1974; Washburn and Guill, 1974; Shanawany, 1984; 1987), effects on post109
110
Y. PINCHASOV
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
hatching growth and final broiler weights are variable. A number of workers have shown that egg weight is an important factor in the performance of broiler chicks to market age (Morris et al., 1968; Proudfoot et al., 1982; Whiting and Pesti, 1984; Wyatt et al., 1985; Mafeni et al., 1986), while others have found that any advantage of chicks hatched from large eggs diminishes rapidly after hatching (Sefton and Siegel, 1974; Washburn and Guill, 1974). The performance of broilers at market age, in terms of body weight and food utilisation, is dependent on many factors. The experiment reported here was designed to re-assess the effects of the age of breeder hens and egg weight on the subsequent performance of the individual chick.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eighty commercial broiler breeder hens (Anak-2000) were housed on a commercial farm in two pens (5 X 5 m each), with males included at a ratio of 1:8. Males and females were fed the same breeder diet in pelleted form during the 50 to 60 week period. The diet was calculated to contain 165 g protein and 11-3 MJ of metabolisable energy (ME)/kg. The amount of food provided from 50 to 54 weeks of age was 155 g/hen d; 160 g/hen were given thereafter. Body weights were measured individually at 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age, and eggs were collected daily and weighed each week on a pen basis. At 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age, 20 eggs were sampled at random from each pen, individually weighed and incubated on the same day in an automatic incubator, maintained at 37°C and 84% relative humidity. At day 18, eggs were transferred to separate pedigree chick boxes in a hatcher, until hatched. In order to avoid the confounding effect on early growth of different intervals between hatching and access to water and food (attributable to the spread of hatch), a batch of chicks was removed from the hatcher every 3 h. Only those hatched not later than 14 h after the collection of the first batch were included in this experiment. The chicks used were wing banded, weighed and immediately transferred to a battery brooder, where they were brooded for 18 d in small battery cages located in a temperature- and ventilation-controlled room with continuous artificial light. The chicks were brooded in groups of 6 birds/cage for the first 2 d, two birds/cage from 3 to 7 d of age, and in individual cages thereafter. They were fed a commercial mash starter diet containing 13*0 MJ of ME and 220 g protein/kg. Food and water were provided ad libitum. Food intake and body weight were recorded several times throughout the experimental period. At 18 d of age, the chicks were killed by cervical dislocation and the abdominal fat pad was removed and weighed. This procedure was restricted to chicks hatched from eggs collected when the hens were at 52 and 55 weeks of age. The statistical analyses were carried out using SAS procedures (SAS Institute Inc., 1985). The age effect was determined using a general linear model (GLM).
EGG SIZE AND CHICK PERFORMANCE
111
R E S U L T S AND D I S C U S S I O N
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
In order to re-assess the relationship between the weight of broilers at marketing and at earlier ages, body weight data of a previous study with broiler chicks (Pinchasov and Jensen, 1989) were analysed for correlations. Correlation coefficients between final body weights and weights at earlier ages decreased with increasing time intervals between them (Table 1). Nevertheless, a significant correlation was observed even at 1 week of age in female chicks. By 3 weeks of age and thereafter r values exceeded 0*6 (P
British Poultry Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cbps20
Relationship between the weight of hatching eggs and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks Y. Pinchasov
a
a
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76–100, Israel Published online: 08 Nov 2007.
To cite this article: Y. Pinchasov (1991): Relationship between the weight of hatching eggs and subsequent early performance of broiler chicks, British Poultry Science, 32:1, 109-115 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071669108417332
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-andconditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
British Poultry Science (1991) 32: 109-115
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WEIGHT OF HATCHING EGGS AND SUBSEQUENT EARLY PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS Y. PINCHASOV Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76-100, Israel
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
Received for publication 28th May 1989
Abstract 1. The effect of egg weight on the subsequent performance of individual growing chicks was studied. Eggs from commercial broiler breeder hens were collected at 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age and incubated. The chicks were reared for 18 d. 2. Egg weight and hatched chick weight were not affected by the age of the hens during the 52 to 57-week period, but there was a close correlation between egg weight and hatching weight, irrespective of the age of the hens (r=0.89). Chick:egg weight ratio at hatching was about 0.71 and independent of hen age. One d after hatching, chick weights had decreased by about 1.5 g. 3. The initial high correlation between egg weight and chick weight decreased markedly during post-hatching growth, becoming insignificant 5 d after hatching. At 18 d of age, however, chicks from eggs of older hens tended to be heavier than those from younger birds. The greater 18-d weights appeared to be associated more with higher food intake during that period, than with greater egg weight. 4. It was concluded that, in individual broiler chicks, the advantage of the initially higher weight attributable to a larger egg diminishes rapidly after hatching, and the main factor affecting final body weight is food intake.
INTRODUCTION
Egg size of broiler breeder hens increases with flock age, but varies widely at any given age (Washburn and Guill, 1974; Yannakopoulos and TserveniGousi, 1987; Robbins et ah, 1988). Because any effect of egg weight on subsequent performance of broiler chicks has an important economic impact, attention has been given to this subject since the beginning of this century (Halbersleben and Mussehl, 1922; Wiley, 1950). Although a very close correlation between egg and hatching weights has been reported (Sefton and Siegel, 1974; Washburn and Guill, 1974; Shanawany, 1984; 1987), effects on post109
110
Y. PINCHASOV
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
hatching growth and final broiler weights are variable. A number of workers have shown that egg weight is an important factor in the performance of broiler chicks to market age (Morris et al., 1968; Proudfoot et al., 1982; Whiting and Pesti, 1984; Wyatt et al., 1985; Mafeni et al., 1986), while others have found that any advantage of chicks hatched from large eggs diminishes rapidly after hatching (Sefton and Siegel, 1974; Washburn and Guill, 1974). The performance of broilers at market age, in terms of body weight and food utilisation, is dependent on many factors. The experiment reported here was designed to re-assess the effects of the age of breeder hens and egg weight on the subsequent performance of the individual chick.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eighty commercial broiler breeder hens (Anak-2000) were housed on a commercial farm in two pens (5 X 5 m each), with males included at a ratio of 1:8. Males and females were fed the same breeder diet in pelleted form during the 50 to 60 week period. The diet was calculated to contain 165 g protein and 11-3 MJ of metabolisable energy (ME)/kg. The amount of food provided from 50 to 54 weeks of age was 155 g/hen d; 160 g/hen were given thereafter. Body weights were measured individually at 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age, and eggs were collected daily and weighed each week on a pen basis. At 52, 55 and 57 weeks of age, 20 eggs were sampled at random from each pen, individually weighed and incubated on the same day in an automatic incubator, maintained at 37°C and 84% relative humidity. At day 18, eggs were transferred to separate pedigree chick boxes in a hatcher, until hatched. In order to avoid the confounding effect on early growth of different intervals between hatching and access to water and food (attributable to the spread of hatch), a batch of chicks was removed from the hatcher every 3 h. Only those hatched not later than 14 h after the collection of the first batch were included in this experiment. The chicks used were wing banded, weighed and immediately transferred to a battery brooder, where they were brooded for 18 d in small battery cages located in a temperature- and ventilation-controlled room with continuous artificial light. The chicks were brooded in groups of 6 birds/cage for the first 2 d, two birds/cage from 3 to 7 d of age, and in individual cages thereafter. They were fed a commercial mash starter diet containing 13*0 MJ of ME and 220 g protein/kg. Food and water were provided ad libitum. Food intake and body weight were recorded several times throughout the experimental period. At 18 d of age, the chicks were killed by cervical dislocation and the abdominal fat pad was removed and weighed. This procedure was restricted to chicks hatched from eggs collected when the hens were at 52 and 55 weeks of age. The statistical analyses were carried out using SAS procedures (SAS Institute Inc., 1985). The age effect was determined using a general linear model (GLM).
EGG SIZE AND CHICK PERFORMANCE
111
R E S U L T S AND D I S C U S S I O N
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 01:56 30 April 2013
In order to re-assess the relationship between the weight of broilers at marketing and at earlier ages, body weight data of a previous study with broiler chicks (Pinchasov and Jensen, 1989) were analysed for correlations. Correlation coefficients between final body weights and weights at earlier ages decreased with increasing time intervals between them (Table 1). Nevertheless, a significant correlation was observed even at 1 week of age in female chicks. By 3 weeks of age and thereafter r values exceeded 0*6 (P
