Pre-incubation storage time and in ovo injection with maltodextrin on Pekin duck incubation parameters.

The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of i) pre-incubation storage time of Pekin duck eggs on incubation parameters and ii) different levels of in ovo injection with maltodextrin on Pekin duckling weight. The study was divided into two experiments using hatching eggs of Cherry Valley SM2 hens with egg-laying ages between 31 and 40 weeks. In experiment I, 8,820 eggs were subjected to different periods of pre-incubation storage (one-seven days). For experiment II, 120 eggs weighing between 75 and 85 g were selected and inoculated with 250 µL of 0.75% saline solution with different concentrations of maltodextrin treatments (0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5%). In relation to pre-incubation storage time, eggs stored for one day had lower hatching and hatchability rates and higher duckling mortality rates than eggs stored for longer periods (P < 0.05). In ovo injection with 3.0% maltodextrin in 0.75% saline solution significantly increased the hatching weight of Pekin ducklings (53.62 g) compared to that by other study treatments (P < 0.05). Therefore, Pekin duck eggs produced between 31 and 40 weeks of life may be stored between two and seven days without affecting hatchery productivity parameters. The hatching weight of Pekin ducks may be improved with in ovo injection with 3.0% maltodextrin in 0.75% saline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]