Effects of short term exposure of eggs to magnetic field before incubation on hatchability and post-hatch performance of meat chickens.

Abstract: The effects of exposing meat-type breeder eggs to magnetic field (MF) before incubation on hatchability traits (percents of hatchability and hatchability failures of eggs), chick weight at hatch, and post-hatch performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR)) from 1 to 39d of age were investigated. Eggs from a Ross flock at 38weeks of age were exposed to MF of 18Gauss (1.8mT) at 50Hz for 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75min (MF0, MF15, MF30, MF45, MF60, and MF75) before incubation. Exposing eggs to MF did not influence hatchability of eggs and chick weight at hatch. However, chickens of MF60 and MF75 treatments had lower weight gain and feed intake than those of the non-exposed treatment at 39d of age. MF exposure of eggs did not influence FCR of chickens between 1 and 21d of age, but tended to increase FCR, albeit non-significantly, between 22 and 39d of age. It is concluded that exposing meat-type breeder eggs to MF of 18Gauss (1.8mT) at 50Hz for up to 75min did not influence hatchability traits and chick weight at hatch. However, MF exposure of eggs for 60 and 75min reduced body weight gain and feed intake of chickens over the 39-d experimental period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]