Egg storage alters weight of supply and demand organs of broiler chicken embryos

Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7608, USA. vern_christensen@ncsu.edu

Storage of fertilized eggs for more than 10 d prior to incubation decreases embryonic viability. The hypothesis was tested that embryos may grow differently following egg storage. Eggs from which embryos survived following storage (ST) were compared to eggs from a second line that did not (NOST). Three identical, independent trials were conducted using fertile eggs from both lines at two ages (peak lay and > 53 wk). Eggs were stored for 1 or 14 d prior to setting in the incubator. At 3-d intervals during development, embryos were carefully removed from the eggs, the yolks were excised and carcasses were weighed. Beginning at 12 d of incubation whole body, heart, liver and thigh tissues were weighed to assess allometric growth of supply (heart and liver) and demand (thigh muscle) tissues. Storage of eggs from both lines and from hens of both ages decreased BW differently throughout incubation. Line, Age and Storage interacted to affect embryonic BW and organ weights. Embryo weights were consistently heavier in NOST line eggs from older breeder flocks stored for 14 d than those from ST line eggs. It was concluded that extended storage of fertile eggs prior to setting affects embryonic growth to enhance survival.

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