1. INCUBATION AND VITAL MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN EGGS FROM AGE-RELATED TURKEYS.
- Author
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Hristakieva, P., Oblakova, M., and Lalev, M.
- Subjects
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EGG incubation , *BIRD eggs , *BIRD embryology , *TURKEYS , *FERTILIZATION (Biology) , *POULTRY , *ANIMAL culture - Abstract
The experiment was performed in the selection farm of the Agricultural Institute, Stara Zagora, "Poultry breeding and production technologies" section in 2008. Eggs produced by turkeys of the Heavy Meat (HM) strain at the age of 32 and 44 weeks were used. The incubation traits were studied on all newly-laid eggs with hatching potential. The early embryonic death rate (EED) was determined at first week of incubation at following defined periods: I - formation of embryonic disk (incubation days 0-3) and II - after formation of the embryonic disk (incubation days 4-7). The embryonic death was determined by examinations by Day 25 and by the time of placing eggs in the hatching chamber. The eggs of the Heavy Meat hybrid turkeys, aged 32 weeks, showed a higher fertilization rate - 91.92%, higher early embryonic death rates: 1.35% up to the 3rd day of incubation and 2.02% up to the 7th day, vs. 0.88% (up to day 3) and 0.88% (up to day 7) in eggs laid by turkeys aged 44 weeks. The hatchability of placed and fertilized eggs was higher for eggs from younger layers (age of 32 weeks) compared to those laid by turkeys at the age of 44 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009