HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buhr, R. J. Articles by Cox, N. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Buhr, R. J. Articles by Cox, N. A.

Automated Spray Sanitizing of Broiler Hatching Eggs 2. Hatchability of Nest Clean and Dirty Eggs

Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2772; Phone: (706) 542-12368; FAX: (706) 542-1827

J. S. Bailey and N. A. Cox

USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Richard B. Russell agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 5677, Athens, GA 30613

Correspondence: R. J. Buhr

The hatchability of nest clean and dirty broiler hatching eggs which have been spray sanitized immediately following collection with the MS Technologies, Inc. Mini-Master/4000® were compared in four trials. Treatments were nonsanitized control, with eggs sanitized by immersion in water or spraying with water or with sanitizing solutions. Trials 1 and 2 utilized nest clean eggs only, while Trials 3 and 4 utilized both nest clean and dirty eggs. Hatch of eggs set and hatchability of fertile eggs were similar between nonsanitized control and all sanitized treatments used nest clean eggs or dirty hatching eggs. Nest clean eggs consistently had greater hatchability than dirty eggs, and sanitizing did not enhance or depress hatchability. The difference in hatchability between nest clean and dirty eggs was due to increased embryonic mortality following transfer into the hatcher for dirty eggs. In Trials 3 and 4, chick weight on day of hatch and at one week posthatch did not differ between nest clean and dirty eggs, or between sanitized and nonsanitized eggs. First week chick mortality was low (<1%) and did not differ significantly between sanitized or nonsanitized nest clean or dirty hatching eggs.

Key Words: Broiler breeder hens • egg washing • hatchability • hatching eggs • spray sanitizing