EFFECT OF STORAGE, PRE-HEATING AND TURNING DURING HOLDING PERIOD ON THE HATCHABILITY OF BROILER BREEDER EGGS

Two hundred forty fertile eggs of an average weight of 52-55g were taken from 32 weeks old broiler breeder flock. These eggs were divided into four groups i.e. A (Without turning and preheating), B (No turning but preheated), C (Turned but without preheating), and D (given both treatments preheating and turning) with 60 eggs in each group. The eggs were stored with broad end upward at 16-20°C and 65-75% humidity. After storage for 5 days, the pre-heating of eggs of groups B and D was performed in an incubator where hot air at 30°C temperature was circulated for 6-7 hours to provide gradual warmth to the eggs before setting in the same incubator. The temperature of the incubator was maintained at 37.6°C with relative humidity of 70%. The eggs of groups C and D were turned on hourly basis at an angle of about 45° till 17 days of incubation. The hatchability values of eggs of groups A, B, C and D were 88.30 ± 0.30, 76.30 ± 0.30, 83.30 ± 0.30 and 79.90 ± 0.10%, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data by Chi-square test showed non-significant differences among treatments.