Results of hatching and rearing broiler chickens in different incubation systems

• Published in: Poultry science 2021-01, Vol.100 (1), p.94-102
• Main Authors: Mesquita, Mariana A., Araújo, Itallo C.S., Café, Marcos B., Arnhold, Emmanuel, Mascarenhas, Alessandra G., Carvalho, Fabyola B., Stringhini, José H., Leandro, Nadja S.M., Gonzales, Elisabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry - instrumentation; Animal Husbandry - methods; Animals; Chick Embryo - growth & development; Chickens; Female; hatchability; Incubators - standards; Incubators - veterinary; Male; Management and Production; multistage; newborn chick quality; Random Allocation; setters; Sex Factors; single-stage; Zygote - growth & development
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.09.028

Hatchery efficiency is based on hatchability and the number of salable chicks. The hatchery sector has been seeking new alternatives to optimize production rates, including the use of different systems (multistage [MS] or single-stage [SS] machines) to improve incubation conditions. The present study aimed to compare results for hatchability, chick quality, and broiler performance of chicks from 2 incubator systems—MS and SS. The experimental design for hatchability, hatch window, egg weight loss, and chick performance variables was completely randomized with 2 treatments (MS and SS). Performance variables were analyzed as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (incubator type x chick sex). Egg weight loss between incubation and transfer was higher for eggs incubated in MS (P