Effect of electromagnetic fields before incubation on hatchability and serum parameters of one-day old chicks

The effect of environmental conditions on health indices, performance and reproduction of poultry such as hatchability of eggs is very important. In recent years, several studies have been paid to theeffect of electromagnetic and magnetic fields onliving organisms, physiologicalchanges, production and health (Adair, 1998; Baharara et al., 2008; Shafey et al., 2011). Animals and poultry are exposed to electromagnetic fields from various sources such as electric wiring, industrial electric furnaces, mobile telephones and electric motors. Electromagnetic fields might impact the biological processes. The electromagnetic fields would also appear to have some negative effects in poultry welfare and economic efficiency. The researchers reported that exposing cells to electromagnetic fields could cause DNA to break apart and thus affect how cells develop (Focke et al., 2010). The effect of artificially generatedelectromagnetic field of low frequency on survival of chick embryos was examined by Siddiqi et al. (2015) and Shafeyet al. (2011). The results of such studies are differentand recurrently controversial mainly becausedifferent induction frequencies and intensities aswell as different times of exposure to the effect of these fields were used.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on hatchability and some serum parameters of one- day old chicks.
Material and Number of 115 fertilized eggs divided randomly to five treatments each replication 23 eggs. Treatments included control group, EMF 2mT, 4 mT, 6 mT and 8mT with low frequency (50 Hz). Each treatment was exposed to electromagnetic fields for 2 hours. Four replicates with 23 eggs were allocated to each experimental treatment. Eggs were stored at room temperature (about 15-18°C). After the exposure of electromagnetic fields, 3 eggs from each treatment analyzed for egg quality parameters. At sampling, eggs were weighed and broken on to a flat surface where the height of the albumen and yolk were measured. The height of the albumen and yolk were measured using micrometer. Mortality was recorded on a group basis as it occurred. Hatching eggs were stored at 18°C and 75% RH. 115 eggs from five treatment groups were incubated in commercial setter and hatcher with 23 eggs in each of treatment group. The setter and hatcher were operated at temperatures of 37.5±0.5°C and 37.0±0.5°C respectively. Hatchability was calculated as the number of chicks hatched per fertile or total eggs. Haugh units were calculated from records of egg weight and albumen height as an indicator of interior egg quality. Haugh unit= 100 log (H 7.57-1.7W0.37), where H= height of the albumen and W= egg weight. At the end of the experiment, one-day chicks were slaughtered and blood samples were provided and analyzed for different parameters. Blood samples were centrifuged (at, 6500× g for 20 min) and serum was separated and then stored at -200C until assayed for measuring biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, HDL, LDL, VLDL) using appropriate laboratory kits. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS (SAS Institute, 2003) statistical programs with ANOVA procedure. Significant differences among treatments means were separated using Duncan, s multiple range test with a 5% probability.
There were no significant differences between treatments for parameters such as egg weight and egg large diameter. There were significant differences in the egg small diameter and albumen height (P It can be concluded that electromagnetic fields decreased levels of serum lipids but had not effect on hatchability and Haugh unit.