Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 5(4): 127-131
Http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2017/5.4.127.131
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Adnan Yousaf1, Adnan Jabbar1, Imdad Hussain Leghari2*, Muhammad Abbas3

1Sadiq Poultry (Pvt) Limited, Chakri Hatchery Rawalpindi, Pakistan; 2Department of Poultry Husbandry, Sindh Agriculture University, 70060 Tandojam, Pakistan; 3Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan.

Abstract | Incubation duration is most important factor to achieve standard hatchability, water loss and chick yield. The current study was conducted to evaluate the exact duration of egg incubation and its effects on egg hatchability and broiler’s performance at farm. Eggs from Ross-308 breeder flocks having age of 42-46 weeks and standard weight of 55-60g were divided into two experimental groups each consist of (n= 538,560) eggs. Group A was incubated for 506 hours (444h in setter and 62 h in hatcher) and hatch pulling was performed twice 1st after 494 h and remaining un-hatch eggs were again shifted to hatchers for next 12 h for 2nd pulling (conventional method of hatch pulling in Pakistan). For group B, hatch pulling was performed after 506 h (456 h in setter and 50 h in hatcher) and complete hatch pulling was done only once. Eggs weight (54.9 ±0.6, 53.9±0.8)at transfer (from setter to hatcher), water loss at transfer (10.6±0.7, 11.67±0.7) and chick weight at day one (42.7±0.3, 41.6±0.3) were significantly (P<0.05) different between group A and B respectively. Similarly, hatchability percentage (85.16±1.02,85.56±1.02) and dead in shell (DIS) percentage(6.62 ±1.5, 6.61±0.8)were also positively (P<0.05) changed in group A as compared to group B respectively. Mortality (3.47±0.23, 2.28±0.06), weight gain (1955.66±25.02, 2001.33±24.33), feed intake (3260.51±13.47, 3245.02±18.03,) and feed conservation ratio at day 35(1.716±0.03, 1.44±0.02) were also found significantly (P<0.05) different in group A than B respectively. These, results indicated that incubation of eggs for 506 h along with single hatch pull is better in terms of water loss, hatchability, DIS percentage and post-hatch performance of broilers.

Keywords | Broiler, Incubation duration, Hatchability, Post-hatch performance