Hatch-Out Analysis and Repeatability Estimates of Common Hatchability Problems in Issa-Brown Breeder Stock

Abstract

Six thousand and three hundred (6,300) sampled hatchable eggs (from a total of 68,130 eggs) produced in two commercial farms were used to evaluate hatchout performance and repeatability of some common hatchability problems in 38-41 weeks old Isa-Brown hens. Fertility, hatchability of total egg set and hatchability of fertile eggs were generally high (>80%) for eggs from the two farms. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between the two farms in the magnitude of hatchability problems at the early (1-7 days) and late (15-17 days) stages of embryonic development. Hatchability problems were higher for eggs obtained from farm AB (16.89%) than for eggs obtained from farm AA (11.87%). The trio of early post fertility mortality, piped, and dead-in-shell were the most important hatchability problems in the two farms. The estimates of repeatability of hatchability problems were generally high (66-98%). Repeatability estimates obtained for early and late embryonic stages were higher than that obtained for the mid-embryonic stage. Results obtained from this study showed that farms source of hatchable eggs has effect on the type and magnitude of reproductive failures that occurred during incubation. The high repeatability of hatchability problems at the early and late embryonic stages suggest a high probability of reproductive failure at the early and late stages of embryonic development in the future except corrective breeding and management strategies are put in place.

Keywords: Hatch-Out Analysis, Repeatability, Fertility, Mortality and Hatchability