Effect of egg weight on hatchability and subsequent performance of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicks

O. J. Alabi, J. W. Ng'ambi, D. Norris, M. Mabelebele

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken egg weight on hatchability and subsequent chick performance. In the first part of the study, a total of 450 Potchefstroom Koekoek eggs were used in a complete randomized design to determine the effect of egg weight on hatchability, embryonic deaths, egg weight loss and hatch weight. The eggs were allocated into three weight-treatments: large (>55 g, A), medium (45-55 g, B) and small (<45 g, C). Hatching yield, hatchability, embryonic deaths, egg weight loss and hatch weight were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the weight of the eggs. The large and medium-sized eggs had higher hatching yield (60 and 70%, respectively). The medium-sized eggs had higher (p<0.05) hatchability values than both small and large-sized eggs. Medium-sized eggs had lower (p<0.05) embryonic deaths (31%) than small (45%) and large (36%) egg sizes. The large-sized eggs had higher hatch-weights than small and medium-sized eggs. The total embryonic deaths, hatching yield and hatchability percentages were optimized within the medium-sized eggs (51 g, r2c;100). The second part of the study was aimed at determining the effect of Potchefstroom Koekoek egg weights on subsequent chick performance and carcass characteristics. The chicks were fed a growers diet containing 11.97 ME MJ kg-1 DM feed of energy and 161 g kg-1 CP. Feed and water were given ad libitum. All the performance parameters were significantly (p>0.05) influenced by egg weight except mortality of the chicks at both starter and finisher phases. The large-sized egg had high (p<0.05) weight gain, better (p<0.05) daily feed intake (36 and 94 g) and feed conversion ratio (3.0 and 5.1) for both starter and finisher phases, respectively. It can be concluded that for better hatchability medium-sized eggs can be considered. However, if growth performance is of primary importance large-sized eggs can be used.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)718-725
Number of pages8
JournalAsian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
Volume7
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • General Veterinary

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