HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lourens, A. Articles by Kemp, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lourens, A. Articles by Kemp, B.

Effects of Eggshell Temperature and Oxygen Concentration on Embryo Growth and Metabolism During Incubation

A. Lourens^*,1, H. van den Brand, M. J. W. Heetkamp, R. Meijerhof and B. Kemp

^* Division of Animal Production of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands; Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands; and HYBRO BV, Veerstraat 38, PO Box 30, 5830 AA, Boxmeer, the Netherlands

¹ Corresponding author: sander.lourens{at}wur.nl

Embryo development and heat production (HP) were studied in eggs of similar size (60 to 65 g) that were incubated at normal (37.8°C) or high (38.9°C) eggshell temperature (EST) and exposed to low (17%), normal (21%), or high (25%) O₂ concentration from d 9 through 19. High EST initially increased HP, but gradually O₂ became more important for HP than EST. Finally,HP was highest for the combination of high EST with high O₂ and lowest for the combination of high EST with low O₂. High EST decreased hatch time, BW, yolk free BW, and relative heart weight. The EST had no effect on residual yolk weight, chick length, or relative liver weight. Increased O₂ increased yolk free BW and chick length and decreased residual yolk weight at hatch. No interactions between EST and O₂ were observed with regard to embryo development and hatchling characteristics. If embryo development is reflected by HP, it can be concluded that high EST primarily increased embryonic development until the second week of incubation. During the third week of incubation, O₂ had a greater effect in determining embryo development than EST.

Key Words: eggshell temperature • oxygen concentration • embryo development • heat production

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Yalcin, M. Cabuk, V. Bruggeman, E. Babacanoglu, J. Buyse, E. Decuypere, and P. B. Siegel Acclimation to Heat During Incubation. 1. Embryonic Morphological Traits, Blood Biochemistry, and Hatching Performance Poult. Sci., June 1, 2008; 87(6): 1219 - 1228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]