2006, Number 4
Effect of the initial weight and weight loss during incubation on the hatchability rate of ostrich eggs (Struthio camelus)
Juárez EMA, Quintana LJA, Prado ROF
Full text
Language: English/Spanish
References: 11
Page: 487-492
PDF size: 125.73 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Optimal average weight of ostrich eggs which were or not successful at hatching was determined throughout two laying periods. The average weight before incubation of hatched eggs was 1.526 ± 0.147 kg and 1.536 ± 0.155 kg for the first and second period, respectively. The average weight for non-hatched eggs in the fi rst period was 1.595 ± 0.129 and 1.643 ± 0.170 kg in the second period. At 39 days of incubation, hatched eggs from the fi rst period weighted 1.259 ± 0.108 kg, while those of the second 1.254 ± 0.120 kg. Non-hatched eggs had an average weight in the first period of 1.242 ± 0.134 kg, and 1.282 ± 0.146 kg in the second laying period. The average humidity loss in eggs hatched during the first period was 17.30 ± 4.36%, and 18.20 ± 3.22% during the second cycle, while in the eggs that did not hatch during the first period it was 22.15 ± 5.98%, and 21.90 ± 5.08% in the second. Most of the eggs, even those that hatched, had a humidity loss percentage greater than recommended. An alteration on vapor conductance of the eggshell is inferred, which is directly related to the characteristics of porosity of each eggshell and the average weight of the egg at the beginning of incubation.REFERENCES
Juárez EMA, Alfaro CJC, Esquivel PJ, Ávila GE. Determi-nación de la pérdida de humedad en huevos fértiles de avestruz African Black incubados en el Distrito Federal durante el periodo de reproducción de 1999. Memorias de la XXV Convención anual ANECA. 2000 mayo 3-6 Cancún (Quintana Roo), México. México (DF): Asoci-ación Nacional de Especialistas en Ciencias Avícolas, AC, 2000:138-142.