Effects of egg storage period on hatching egg quality, hatchability, chick quality and relative growth in Pekin ducks

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280WOS: 000249218800007A total of 864 incubating eggs produced by a Pekin duck breeder flock (Star 52- Grimaud Freres) were used to determine effects of different storage periods (0, 3, 7, 11 d) on egg quality, hatchability, duckling quality and relative growth (RG) at the end of 7 d rearing. Egg albumen index and Haugh unit were decreased, egg albumen pH and yolk pH were increased by length of egg storage period. Hatchability was decreased and early embryonic death was increased from eggs stored for 11 d. Egg weight loss, apparent fertility, middle and late embryonic death were not significantly affected by storage. Duck eggs stored for 0 and 3 d increased hatchability results and RG of ducklings. The percentage of ducklings with quality score of 100 was lower in eggs stored for 11 d (P<0.001). Ducklings with quality scores of 100 had significantly higher RG compared with those having quality scores less than 100. RG of ducklings with scores of 100 was lower in eggs stored for 11 d (P<0.001). It is recommended that storage period of Pekin duck eggs should not be longer than 7 days

Effects of hen production cycle and egg weight on egg quality and composition, hatchability, duckling quality, and first-week body weight in Pekin ducks

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280WOS: 000296263900031PubMed: 22010253This study was conducted to determine the effect of hen production cycle (HPC) and the effect of egg weight (EW) at the same egg production level on egg quality, egg composition, hatchability, duckling quality, and first-week BW in Pekin ducks. For HPC, hatching eggs were obtained from different Pekin-duck breeder flocks, aged 31 wk for the first production cycle (HPC1) and 78 wk for the second production cycle (HPC2). For EW, there were 3 categories: heavy (H), medium (M), and light (L). Ten eggs from each HPC and EW group were analyzed for the determination of egg quality, and albumen and yolk compositions. Ninety eggs from each HPC and EW group were incubated for the determination of hatchability, and duckling weight and quality. After quality scoring, 20 ducklings (10 male and 10 female) from each group were weighed, and reared to 1 wk of age in a brooder machine to determine relative growth (RG). The results showed that the albumen index; Haugh unit; shell percentage; yolk moisture, ash, protein, lipids, and triglycerides; albumen moisture, ash, and protein; yolk fatty acid contents; hatching weight; duckling weights at 1 wk of age; and RG were significantly affected by HPC. Egg weight affected shell thickness, yolk and albumen indices, Haugh unit, yolk and albumen percentages, yolk to albumen ratio, shell percentage, yolk fatty acid content, hatching weight, duckling weight at 1 wk of age, and RG

Effects of breeder age on mineral contents and weight of yolk sac, embryo development, and hatchability in Pekin ducks

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280WOS: 000334045600027PubMed: 24570471The current study was carried out to investigate the effects of breeder age on egg composition, changes of embryo, yolk sac, and yolk minerals during incubation and hatchability in Pekin ducks. A total of 495 freshly laid eggs were obtained from the same flock of Pekin ducks, aged 28, 34, and 40 wk, and were reared in accordance with the management guide of the duck breeders (Star 53-Grimaud Freres). At each breeder age, egg measurements were made on a random subsample of unincubated eggs. Embryo and yolk sac measurements were made on embryonic day (E) 12, E16, E20, and E25. On d 28 of incubation, the healthy ducklings were removed and sex of chicks was determined. All chicks were weighed and hatching results were determined. Egg weight and yolk percentages increased; however, albumen percentages, shell thickness, and yolk index decreased as the flock aged. Shell percentages, shell breaking strength, albumen index, and haugh units were not affected by breeder age. Also, breeder age affected the Mg, P, K, Ca, Cu, and Zn levels in the yolk, except for Na level on day of setting, and breeder age affected the mineral consumed by embryo during incubation. However, on E25, the levels of examined minerals, except for P level in the yolk sac, were not statistically different in duck breeder age groups. Relative yolk sac and embryo weights of eggs obtained from different breeder ages varied from E16 to E25; however, embryo length was different in breeder age groups from E12 to E20. Hatching weight was affected by breeder age and sex. Hatching results were not different among breeder age groups. This study indicates that breeder age is important for some egg characteristics, relative yolk sac weight, some contents of minerals in the yolk, embryonic growth during incubation, and duckling weight

Body weight and body measurements of male and female Pekin ducks obtained from breeder flocks of different age

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280;WOS: 000298510800009In total, 144 Pekin ducklings (72 male and 72 female) obtained from breeder flocks of different ages (37 and 135 wks) were used to evaluate body weight and body measurements until 42 days of life. Ducklings were leg-banded for individual identification after hatching and sexing. Body weight and body measurements were taken at hatch and during the 6 weeks experimental period. Time - breeder age and. time - sex interactions were found to be significant (p < 0.001). Growth model of female ducks was modeled with a three parameters logistic regression, whereas, male ducks were modeled with Gompertz model. At hatch, age of the breeder flock and sex affected all of the examined parameters however at slaughter age only body weight was affected. Male ducks were significantly heavier than female ducks at slaughter age

Influence of lighting periods and stocking densities on performance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters in broilers

Ozturk, Hakan/0000-0003-2913-2069; Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280WOS: 000261440200001This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of lighting and stocking density on performance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters (H-L ratio, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tonic immobility test (TI), antibody production, relative asymmetry (RA) and external appearances). Four hundred and seventy day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. The chicks were randomly distributed into two light proof controlled rooms. In one room the lighting period remained at continuous lighting (24 L: OD) during the whole experiment, while in the other room the photoperiod was 16 h light and 8 h dark per day. Each lighting group was divided into two stocking density groups (11.9 b/m(2) (average 29.9 kg of BW/m(2)) and 17.5 b/m(2) (average 40.7 kg of BW/m(2))) with 5 replications per group. Lighting program did not influence slaughter weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed to gain ratio, carcass characteristics, percentage of abdominal fat, heart, gizzard, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius, RA of metatarsus length, RA of tarsometatarsus length and thickness, mean RA, claw length, foot health, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels anti-SRBC and anti NDV titers. TI duration (p < 0.001), feather condition (p < 0.001) and H-L ratio (p < 0.05) of broilers were significantly different in lighting groups. TI duration was 255 and 431 s, feather condition was 16.3 and 14.5 and H-L ratio was 1.0 and 1.2 in broilers exposed to 16L:8D lighting program and 24L:OD lighting program, respectively. Stocking density influenced final body weight (p < 0.001), body weight gain (p < 0.001), feed consumption (p < 0.05) and feed to gain ratio (p < 0.05). Final body weight was 2515 and 2326 g, feed consumption was 3829 and 3662 g and feed to gain ratio was found 1.55 and 1.61 g/g in broilers reared at 11.9 b/m(2) and 17.5 b/m(2), respectively. Feather condition (p < 0.001) and foot health (p < 0.01) were significantly different in stocking density groups. Feather condition was 16.5 and 14.3 and foot health was 3.6 and 3.0 in broilers reared at 11.9 and 17.5 b/m(2), respectively. Percentage of heart (p < 0.05), TI duration (p < 0.001), H-L ratio (p < 0.001), serum glucose (p < 0.001) and serum cholesterol levels (p < 0.05) were statistically higher in broilers reared at 17.5 b/m(2) than in broilers reared at 11.9 b/m(2). In conclusion darkness period and stocking density play an important role in modern broiler rearing.Ankara University Research FundAnkara University [20070810005HPD]This study was supported by Ankara University Research Fund (Project No. 20070810005HPD). We thank the Beypilic for supplying chicks to us

Effect of spraying Pekin duck eggs obtained from different breeder age on hatchability

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; kocakaya, afsin/0000-0003-2023-8895WOS: 000343650800001The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spraying Pekin duck eggs obtained from different breeder age on hatchability. Hatching eggs used in this study were obtained from Pekin breeder flock. A total of 560 eggs were collected at 30 and 38-wk of breeder age at the farm. Ten eggs from each breeder age group were used to determine eggshell thickness. The other eggs for determination of hatchability and embryo development were stored for 3 d at 17 degrees C and 75% relative humidity. Eggs were incubated in the same incubator and turned from 1 to 25 days of incubation once an hour. On the 4(th) d of incubation, eggs were assigned to three treatment groups: control, spraying once a day ( Group 1), and spraying twice a day ( Group 2). Each group comprised 90 eggs which have been set to one tray each. Eggs of Group 1 and 2 were taken out of the incubator once a day and two times a day, sprayed with warm water ( 25-28 degrees C) and placed back to the incubator after 20 minutes, respectively. On the 25(th) day of incubation, all eggs were transferred singly into pedigree hatching baskets. On the 28(th) day of incubation, healthy ducklings were removed and sex and weight of the chicks was recorded. Fertility, embryonic dead and hatchability were determined. Egg weight increased ( P < 0.001) and eggshell thickness decreased ( P < 0.01) with increasing breeder age. Embryonic mortality was lower and hatchability was higher in sprayed groups than in control group ( P < 0.05) in eggs from 30 wks old hens. Increasing hen age increased the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight ( P < 0.001). Spraying of eggs affected the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight ( P < 0.001). Control and Group 1 were similar in the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight. However spraying of eggs twice a day with warm water from 4 to 25 days of incubation negatively affected the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight. It was concluded that spraying of duck eggs is partly linked to breeder hen age

Effect of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics

kocakaya, afsin/0000-0003-2023-8895; Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; UNAL, NECMETTIN/0000-0001-5250-7063WOS: 000343649800001The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics. A total of five hundred seventy six 1-d-old male broiler chicks (ROSS-308) was randomly assigned to 48 pens. Chicks were randomly allocated to 2 litter and 4 Yucca schidigera treatments (0, 4, 8, 12%) with 6 replication pens. Each pen consisted of 12 chicks. Performances of broilers, ratio of footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics were not affected by Yucca schidigera additions to the litter materials. However, body weight gain and feed conversion from 1 to 21 days, total feed intake, total colony counts and number of Enterobacteriaceae in the litter were changed by litter material. Litter material by level of Yucca schidigera interaction was significant for body weight gain and feed conversion. Further studies will be done with different doses and applications of Yucca schidigera additions to the litter.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [110O933]A part of this study was supported by TUBITAK Fund (Project No: 110O933). We thank the Beypilic for supplying chicks and Ekol Gida for supplying Yucca schidigera extract to us

The Changes of the Body Weight and Some Blood Parameters of Pekin Ducklings Dependent on Transportation Duration

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; ERISIR, Zeki/0000-0003-0420-023X; Erisir, Mine/0000-0001-6209-4792WOS: 000262562100003The effect of transportation on body weight and some blood parameters of hatching Pekin ducklings were investigated. A total of 500 (250 male, 250 female) 1 day-old ducklings (Star 52-Grimaud Freres) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Upon hatching and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, each duckling was weighed to determine their body weights. Before transportation and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, necks of 10 male and 10 female ducklings were broken and blood samples were taken. Plasma corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST (Aspartate transaminase), CK (Creatine kinase), total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L (heterophile/lymphocyte) ratios were determined. The body weights, which were 46.1 and 45.7 g for hatching male and female ducklings, fell down to 41.3 and 41.5 g at the end of transportation. During transportation, a total of 4 ducklings died; 1 male and 1 female on the 8 h, 1 male and 1 female on the 12 h. Plasma glucose levels of ducklings decreased up to 8 h of transportation, but increased at 12 h. Plasma corticosterone, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L ratios increased in transported ducklings due to increasing transportation time