Effect of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) on hatchability of broiler breeder eggs

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage (SPIDES) on the hatchability of broiler breeder eggs. Broiler hatching eggs (500) were divided into five groups (A to E) containing 100 eggs in each and further subdivided into five replicates of 20 each. These groups were subjected to SPIDES treatment at temperature 37.50C and 55-60% relative humidity (RH) viz. control A (7 days egg storage without SPIDES and incubated on 8thday), B (10 days storage with 1 h SPIDES on 5thday and incubated on 11thday), C (10 days storage with 2 h SPIDES on 5th day and incubated on 11thday), D (15 days storage with 1 h SPIDES on 5thand 10thday and incubated on 16thday), E (15 days storage with 2 h SPIDES on 5thand 10thday and incubated on 16thday). All eggs were stored at 16-180C temperature and 65-70% RH. Egg weight loss, fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality, hatch window, chick quality and healthy chick production were studied. SPIDES treatment in Group E restored hatchability and healthy chick production, reduced late embryonic mortality and improved day-old chick length. In conclusion, SPIDES treatment at 37.5°C and 55-60% RH for 2 h on 5thand 10thday during 15 days egg storage restored the hatchability; and improved embryonic survivability, healthy chick production and chick quality.