Abstract

PRADO-REBOLLEDO, O.F. et al. Additional oxygen in incubation of broiler chickens. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.221, pp.85-91. ISSN 1885-4494.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different oxygen concentration during incubation on parameters in broiler chickens. Two hatchers with capacity of 4800 eggs were used to provide different oxygen concentration (17.5 vs. 21%). 300 eggs were weighted and randomly distributed in both machines. The humidity loss, hatchability, weight and length of chick, blood glucose level, haematocrit, residual yolk and embryonic mortality were recorded. At the greatest oxygen concentration hatchability increased 2.13 percentage points, humidity was lost more efficiently, and the length of chicks increased 0.44 cm; glycemia was reduce (-16.4 mg/dl), while haematocrit increased 25.75 ± 1.86%), being higher the embryo mortality during their first stage of development. The additional oxygen in 21% during the incubation may increase the hatchability, without compromising chick integrity.

Keywords : Embryonic development; Incubation; Oxygenation.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )