Incubation temperature significantly affects the hatchability of ostrich eggs. Hatchability of fertile eggs declined and embryonic mortality increased with higher incubation temperatures, especially at 37.2°C. Egg weight loss and the number of deformed chicks also increased at the highest temperature. The optimal incubation temperature was found to be 36.0-36.6°C, as temperatures of 37.2°C or higher reduced hatchability and increased embryonic mortality and abnormalities.
Incubation temperature significantly affects the hatchability of ostrich eggs. Hatchability of fertile eggs declined and embryonic mortality increased with higher incubation temperatures, especially at 37.2°C. Egg weight loss and the number of deformed chicks also increased at the highest temperature. The optimal incubation temperature was found to be 36.0-36.6°C, as temperatures of 37.2°C or higher reduced hatchability and increased embryonic mortality and abnormalities.
Incubation temperature significantly affects the hatchability of ostrich eggs. Hatchability of fertile eggs declined and embryonic mortality increased with higher incubation temperatures, especially at 37.2°C. Egg weight loss and the number of deformed chicks also increased at the highest temperature. The optimal incubation temperature was found to be 36.0-36.6°C, as temperatures of 37.2°C or higher reduced hatchability and increased embryonic mortality and abnormalities.
Incubation temperature significantly affects the hatchability of ostrich eggs. Hatchability of fertile eggs declined and embryonic mortality increased with higher incubation temperatures, especially at 37.2°C. Egg weight loss and the number of deformed chicks also increased at the highest temperature. The optimal incubation temperature was found to be 36.0-36.6°C, as temperatures of 37.2°C or higher reduced hatchability and increased embryonic mortality and abnormalities.
factors afecting the hatchability of ostrich eggs.
As is known, temperature, humidity, ventilation and rotation during the incubation period mark- edly afect the hatchability of fertile eggs and chick quality. e most dramatic efect of these factors on the hatchability of fertile eggs is temperature. e temperature experienced by a developing em- bryo depends on three factors; incubator tempera- ture, ability of heat to pass between the incubator and the embryo and metabolic heat production of the embryo itself (French, 1997). e efect of temperature on the hatchability of fertile eggs was investigated by many researchers (Kosin, 1964; Landauer, 1967; Lundy, 1969; Meir and Ar, 1990). e incubation temperature of os- trich eggs under natural conditions was determined to be 36.0C (Swart et al., 1987). Egg temperature varies greatly among the species in natural incuba- tion (Kosin, 1964; Wilson et al., 1979). Landauer (1967) reported that the increase in temperature during incubation was very critical for chick embryos. Moreover, it was reported that growth was retarded or ceased and the incidence of poor second quality chicks increased as the temperature was raised (Wilson, 1991). is study was carried out with the aim of determining the efects of dif- ferent incubation temperatures of ostrich eggs on hatchability. MATERIAL AND METHODS e eggs used in the trial were from breeding os- triches raised in South Africa. e nests of ostriches were checked twice a day for the presence of eggs and eggs were collected; as soon as they were laid, each egg was coded by the date when they were laid and transferred to a storage room. e eggs were weighed individually on an electronic balance to the nearest 0.01 g. e eggs were stored for 7 days at 1518C and 80% relative humidity. e total of 282 eggs whose weights ranged between 1 320 and 1 480 g were used in the trial. ereafter, they were incubated at temperatures 36.0, 36.6 and 37.2C in three fully automatic incubators. Eggs were set in the incubators 12 times during the laying pe- riod. Relative humidity of 30% was provided for these eggs in the incubators for 38 days and then it was maintained at 40% until hatching. ey were e efect of diferent incubation temperatures on the incubation performance of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs A. IPEK, U. SAHAN, B. YILMAZ Animal Science Department, Agricultural Faculty, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey ABSTRACT: is research was carried out with the aim of determining the efect of diferent incubation tempera- tures on the incubation performance of ostrich eggs. e total of 282 eggs were incubated in a defned developmen- tal period at 36.0, 36.6 and 37.2C in three fully automatic programmable incubators that were available on the farm (12 times at one week intervals) during the laying period. e temperature applied during the growth period in artifcial incubation of ostrich eggs signifcantly afected the hatchability of fertile eggs, embryo mortalities and incubation periods (P < 0.01). Egg weight loss increased with increased temperature (P < 0.05). In this study early and late embryonic mortality rates in eggs incubated at a high temperature were found to be high (P < 0.01). Eye abnormality was observed in four of the chicks hatched at 37.2C. Keywords: incubation; temperature; ostrich (Struthio camelus) Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 Original Paper 271 turned at an angle of 45 every hour. Fertility was determined via candling on the 14th day of incu- bation. e eggs were candled on the 38th day of incubation again, and those exhibiting embryonic mortality were determined and removed from the machines. Tthey were opened to determine the time of embryonic mortality. Viable eggs were weighed using an electronic balance to the nearest 0.01 g in order to determine the weight loss during the incubation period. e incubation period was determined and the hatched chicks were checked for deformities. e efect of diferent temperatures on the hatchability of fertile eggs, hatchability of total eggs and the incidence of embryonic mortality and deformed chicks were revealed. Moreover, the relations between diferent temperatures and egg weight loss, chick hatch weight and length of the incubation period were determined. Trials were subjected to an analysis of variance (Minitab personal communication, 1989), utilizing ANOVA procedures for balanced data. Analyses for percentage data were conducted after an arc sine transformation of the data. Signifcant difer- ences between treatment means were determined by Duncans multiple range test. RESULTS e efects of diferent temperatures on hatch- ability characteristics are shown in Table 1. Data obtained by the research indicated that the temperature applied during the growth period in artifcial incubation of ostrich eggs signifcantly afected the hatchability of fertile eggs, embryo mortalities and incubation periods (P < 0.01). Hatchability of fertile eggs declined with tem- perature, for maximum hatchability a lower tem- perature than 37.2C is desirable in the incubation period. Embryonic mortality tended to increase at 37.2C (P < 0.01). Egg weight loss increased with increased temperature (P < 0.05). Deformed chicks were observed only at 37.2C. Length of incubation was afected by the temperature (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION e efects of temperature on embryonic develop- ment and duration of incubation period depend on the temperature (low or high), age of the embryo, duration of exposure and their interactions, as well as humidity and type of incubator (Wilson, 1991). e Table 1. e efect of diferent temperatures on the hatchability characteristics (mean SEM) Temperature (C) 36.0 36.6 37.2 Total eggs (n) 92 90 93 Egg weight (g) 1 420.2 42.7 1 409.2 38.8 1 427.5 53.9 N.S. Fertility 67.4 1.9 66.6 1.3 67.7 2.3 N.S. Hatchability of fertile eggs 70.9 1.1a 71.6 1.9a 57.1 1.7b ** Hatchability of total eggs 47.8 1.2a 47.8 1.2a 38.7 1.1b ** Early term embryonic mortality 8.1 1.3b 8.3 1.6b 15.9 1.9a ** Middle term embryonic mortality 4.8 1.0b 5.0 1.2
b 6.3 1.3a ** Late term embryonic mortality 16.1 1.5b 15.0 1.3
b 20.6 1.7a ** Number of deformed chicks (n) 4 Egg weight loss 12.4 0.2c 13.7 0.3b 15.5 0.5a * Incubation period (d) 42.6 1.1b 41.8 0.9b 40.8 0.8a * a, b, c = means in the same line with no common superscript are signifcantly diferent at the P < 0.05, P < 0.01 level *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 Original Paper Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 272 Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 Original Paper 273 optimum incubation temperature for ostrich eggs has not been precisely established so far. Deeming et al. (1993) reported that ostrich eggs could be incubated at temperatures between 3537C. e incubation of eggs at a variety of temperatures between 36.0 and 36.7C showed that incubation at 36.4C allowed 50% of all chicks to hatch within 42 days (Ar et al., 1996). However, few studies have reported the infu- ence of high temperature on hatchability, weight loss of the embryo and length of the incubation period of ostrich eggs. Smith et al. (1995) determined the hatchability to be 44% when applying a temperature of 37.3C to the ostrich eggs during their developmental pe- riod. In the present study the hatchability of eggs subjected to a temperature of 37.2C was shown to decline signifcantly. A higher temperature inside the eggs could in- crease the gradient of temperature between the embryos body and the incubator, leading in turn to more heat dissipated by evaporation and thus to a higher weight loss before hatching (Gildersleeve, 1984). In this study, the weight loss from the eggs incubated at 37.2C was rather higher than at 36.0 and 36.6C. Decuypere and Michels (1992) noted that older embryos were more afected by low temperatures. In the present study the late embryonic mortality rate in the eggs incubated at 37.2C temperature was found to be high. e incidence of congenital deformities was generally excessive; the incubator temperature was implicated as a potential cause (Deeming, 1993; Stewart, 1996). Eye abnormalities were observed in four of the chicks hatched at 37.2C. ese fndings are in accordance with the presented results. Swart and Rahn (1988) reported that the in- cubation period for ostriches ranged between 40 and 44 days, 42 days being optimal. Jarvis et al. (1985) found out that the incubation period was prolonged by 23 days when ostrich eggs were incubated at 35C compared with those incubated at 36.0C while Deeming et al. (1993) determined that the incubation period was shortened by 3 days by raising the temperature from 36.0 to 37.0C in single-stage incubators. Similarly, Stewart (1996) found out that every 0.6C increase in temperature shortened the incubation period by 1 day in ostrich eggs. is researcher reported that the incubation period was 2 days shorter in the eggs incubated at 37.2C. is result is in accordance with the results of our research. Eggs at diferent developmental stages are incu- bated in the machines during weekly settings due to the difculties of obtaining a sufcient number of eggs especially at the beginning and at the end of the laying period (Ar, 1996). Essentially, one should try to incubate the ostrich eggs in single- stage machines for high hatchability and optimum incubation period. e presence of embryos at dif- ferent developmental stages being together in the multi-stage machines makes the temperature factor even more important (Deeming et al., 1993). is research indicates that the temperature is of great importance in the incubation of ostrich eggs, even a slight increase in the temperature of the incuba- tor signifcantly afects the hatchability results. erefore it is important to keep the temperature at the optimum level and avoid the temperature fuctuations in the artifcial incubation of ostrich eggs. For the greatest success of incubation, the adjustment of the temperature should not be more than 36.6C in the incubator. REFERENCES Ar A. (1996): Requirements for successful artifcial in- cubation of ostrich eggs. In: Deeming D.C. (ed.): Improving Our Understanding of Ratites in a Farming Environment. Ratite Conference, Oxfordshire, UK, 131144. Ar A., Meip M., Aizak N., Campi D. (1996): Standard values and ranges of ostrich egg parameters as basis for proper artifcial incubation. In: Deeming D.C. (ed.): Improving Our Understanding of Ratites in a Farming Environment. Ratite Conference, Oxfordshire, UK, 144146. Decuypere E., Michels H. (1992): Incubation Tempera- ture as a Management Tool: A Review. World Poultry Sci. J., 48, 2838. Deeming D.C. (1993): e incubation requirements of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs and embryos. In: Bryden D.I. (ed.): Ostrich Odyssey: Proceedings of the Meeting of the Australian Ostrich Association Inc. (Vic), 217, Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, 66 pp. Deeming D.C., Ayres L., Ayres F.J. (1993): Observa- tions on the production of ostrich (Struthio camelus) in the United Kingdom: Incubation. Vet. Rec., 132, 602607. French N.H. (1997): Modelling incubation temperature: the efects of incubator design, embryonic develop- ment and egg size. Poultry Sci., 76, 124133. Original Paper Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 272 Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 Original Paper 273 Gildersleeve R.P. (1984): e efect of humidity and broiler strain on egg weight losses during incubation. Poultry Sci., 63, 21402144. Jarvis M.J.F., Jarvis C., Kefen H.R. (1985): Some physical requirements for ostrich egg incubation. Os- trich, 56, 4251. Kosin I.L. (1964): Recent research trends in hatchability related problems of the domestic fowl. World Poultry Sci. J., 20, 254268. Landauer W. (1967): e hatchability of chicken eggs as infuenced by environment and heredity. Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, Connecticut. Lundy H. (1969): A review of the efects of temperature, humidity, turning and gaseous environment in the incubator on the hatchability of the hens egg. In: Carter T.C., Freeman B.M. (eds.): e fertility and hatchability of the hens egg. Edinburgh, UK. 143 176. Meir M., Ar A. (1990): Gas pressures in the air cell of the ostrich egg prior to piping as related to oxygen consumption, eggshell gas conductance and egg tem- perature. Condor, 92, 556563. Smith W.A., Cilliers S.C., Mellett F.D., Schalkwyk S.J. (1995): Ostrich production a south African perspec- tive. In: Proceedings of All techs 11th Annual Sym- posium, May 1995, Lexington, Kentucky, 175202. Stewart J.S. (1996): Hatchery management in ostrich production. In: Tully T.N., Shane S.M. (eds.): Ratite Management Medicine and Surgery. Krieger Publish- ing Company, Malabar, Florida. 4146. Swart D., Rahn H. (1988): Microclimate of ostrich nests: measurements of egg temperature and nest humidity using egg hygrometers. J. Comp Physiol., 157B, 845854. Swart D., Rahn H., De Kock J. (1987): Nest microcli- mate and incubation water loss of eggs of the African ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus). J. Exp. Zool., 1, 239246. Wilson H.R. (1991): Physiological requirements of the developing embryo temperature and turning. In: Avian Incubation. Butterworth-Heinemann, Lon- don. Wilson H.R., Miller E.R., Ande T.B., Ingram D.R. (1979): Hatchability of bobwhite quail eggs incubated in various temperature combinations. Poultry Sci., 58, 1352. Received: 030116 Accepted after corrections: 030627 ABSTRAKT Vliv rznch inkubanch teplot na inkubaci vajec ptrosa (Struthio camelus) Clem vzkumu bylo stanoven vlivu rzn inkuban teploty pi inkubaci ptrosch vajec. V prbhu snkovho obdob bylo inkubovno celkem 282 vajec pi teplot 36,0, 36,6 a 37,2 C ve tech pln automatizovanch programovatelnch inkubtorech, kter byly na farm k dispozici. Teplota pouit pi uml inkubaci ptrosch vajec vznamn ovlivnila lhnivost oplodnnch vajec, embryonln mortalitu a dobu inkubace (P < 0,01). bytek hmotnosti vajec se zvyoval s vy teplotou (P < 0,05). V tto studii jsme zaznamenali vysokou rannou a pozdn embryonln mortalitu vajec inkubovanch pi vysok teplot (P < 0,01). U ty kuat jsme pi teplot 37,2 C zjistili on abnormality. Klov slova: inkubace; teplota; ptros (Struthio camelus) Corresponding Author Prof. Dr. Aydin Ipek, Uludag University, Agricultural Faculty, Department of Animal Science, 16059 Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey Tel. +90 224 442 89 70, fax +90 224 442 81 52, e-mail: bilgehan@uludag.edu.tr Original Paper Czech J. Anim. Sci., 48, 2003 (7): 271274 274