A Study Of The Effects Of Spring And Summer Seasons, Broiler Breeder Age And Egg Weight On Hatchability Traits And Chick Quality Of Broiler Breeder Flocks

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spring and summer seasons, broiler breeder age and egg weight on hatchability traits and chick quality. For this purpose, 1796863 fertile eggs with hatchability from three broiler breeder flocks (Ross 308) were thoroughly inspected in hatchery from March to September 2016. After the incubation period, the hatched eggs of farms were recorded and the hatching chicks were graded and weighed. The age range of broiler breeder flocks in 9 groups and egg weight were classified into 5 groups. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design with GLM (SAS 9.1) and Duncan test. The effects of six -months period and spring and summer seasons were significant (p<0.05) on average percentage of fertility, average percentage of hatchability of set eggs, average percentage of hatchability of fertility eggs and average percentage of non-salable chicks, so that in september and summer were observed the lowest frequency of these parameters. the effects of the six-months period on average percentage of egg weight, average percentage of chicken weight and average percentage of relative weight of chick were not significant, but these parameters were statistically significant in the two seasons of spring and summer. Average percentage of fertility, average percentage of hatchability of set eggs and hatchability of fertility eggs decreased significantly (p<0.05) in step with increase in the flock age, whereas average percentage of egg weight, average percentage of chicken weight and average percentage of relative weight of chickens increased. Therefore, the lowest frequency of fertility, hatchability of set eggs and hatchability of fertility eggs were recorded in broiler chickens over the age of 60 weeks and eggs weighing more than 69 gr. The effect breeder flock age and fertile egg weight on the frequency of non-salable chicks were not significant. The results of this study showed that hatchability traits decrease and chick quality increase in summer as the breeder flock age and egg weight increases.