Abstract
The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) on hatching criteria, chick quality, and subsequent growth performance of broiler chickens under heat stress (HS) condition. Two thousand fertile eggs were randomly divided between 2 groups and incubated under standard (37.8 °C and 56% relative humidity (RH)) and TM (39.5 °C and 65% RH) conditions. Temperature and humidity were identical in both groups within the first 10 days. The eggs in the TM group were exposed to 39.5 °C and 65% RH for 3 h/day from 11 to 16 days of incubation. Egg weight (EW) was measured in 1, 11, and 18 days of incubation, and eggshell temperature (EST) was recorded daily. Chick quality was, also, evaluated according to the Tona method on hatch day. Samples of the chicks (n = 20) were euthanized and dissected at 0-day post-hatch, and different carcass parts were weighed, and blood samples were collected for hormones analysis. The post-hatch growth performance of both groups was also recorded under HS (37 °C for 5 h beginning at 22 days) condition. The results showed that TM did not significantly affect hatchability and embryonic mortality (P > 0.05). The female chick percentage was higher in the TM group (P < 0.05). Eggshell temperature and serum concentrations of corticosterone and T4 were significantly higher in the TM compared with the control chicks (P < 0.05). The chick length was considerably shorter in TM chicks (P < 0.05). Chick quality was not influenced by TM. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the post-hatch growth performance (P > 0.05). In conclusion, exposing broiler embryos to the controlled TM did not have adverse effects on chick quality and post-hatch growth performance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Afsarian O, Shahir MH, Lourens A, Akhlaghi A, Lotfolahian H, Hoseini A, Mousavi N (2018) Eggshell temperature manipulations during incubation and in ovo injection of thyroxine are associated with a decreased incidence of cold-induced ascites in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 97(1):328–336. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pex302
Akşit M, Yalçin S, Yenisey Ç, Özdemir D (2010) Brooding temperatures for chicks acclimated to heat during incubation: effects on post-hatch intestinal development and body weight under heat stress. Br Poult Sci 51(3):444–452. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2010.495746
Al-Rukibat RK, Al-Zghoul MB, Hananeh WM, Al-Natour MQ, Abu-Basha EA (2017) Thermal manipulation during late embryogenesis: effect on body weight and temperature, thyroid hormones, and differential white blood cell counts in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 96(1):234–240. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pew298
Al-Zghoul M, El-Bahr SM (2019) Thermal manipulation of the broilers embryos: expression of muscle markers genes and weights of body and internal organs during embryonic and post-hatch days. BMC Vet Res 15(1):166–176. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-1917-6
Al-Zhgoul MB, Dalab AS, Ababneh MM, Jawasreh K (2013) Thermal manipulation during chicken embryogenesis results in enhanced Hsp70 gene expression and the acquisition of thermotolerance. Res Vet Sci 95(2):502–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.05.012
Aminoroaya K, Sadeghi AA, Ansari-Pirsaraei Z, Kashan N (2016) The effects of cyclical higher incubation temperatures on body and organs weights, thyroid hormones and hsp70 gene expression of newly hatched broiler chicks. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg 22(4):613–618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.08.008
Aviagen (2014) Broiler nutrition specifications. Available at: http://en.aviagen.com/brands/ross/products/ross-308. Acceessed 6/6/2020
Awad EA, Najaa M, Zulaikha ZA, Zulkifli I, Soleimani AF (2020) Effects of heat stress on growth performance, selected physiological and immunological parameters, caecal microflora, and meat quality in two broiler strains. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 33(5):778–787. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0208
Copur Akpinar G, Alasahan S, Ayasan T (2017) Selected traits of hatched and unhatched eggs and chick growth performance in the Japanese quail yellow. Revis Bras Ciênc Avícola 19(3):527–536. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2016-0456
Debonne M, Baarendse PJJ, Van Den Brand H, Kemp B, Bruggeman V, Decuypere E (2008) Involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and its interaction with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the ontogeny of avian thermoregulation: a review. World's Poultry Science Journal 64(3), 309–321. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933908000056
DuRant SE, Hopkins WA, Carter AW, Kirkpatrick LT, Navara KJ, Hawley DM (2016) Incubation temperature causes skewed sex ratios in a precocial bird. J Exp Biol 219:1961–1964. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.138263
Goo D, Kim JH, Park GH, Reyes J, Kil D (2019) Effect of heat stress and stocking density on growth performance, breast meat quality, and intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens. Anim 9(3):107–115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9030107
Habibian M, Ghazi S, Moeini M, Abdolmohammadi AR (2014) Effects of dietary selenium and vitamin E on immune response and biological blood of broilers reared under thermo neutral or heat stress conditions. Int J Biometeorol 58(5):741–752. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-013-0654-y
Halle I, Tzschentke B (2011) Influence of temperature manipulation during the last 4 days of incubation on hatching results, post-hatching performance and adaptability to warm growing conditions in broiler chickens. J Poult Sci 48(2):97–105. https://doi.org/10.2141/jpsa.010056
Krausova T, Peterka M (2007) Teratogenic and lethal effects of 2–24 h hyperthermia episodes on chick embryos. J Therm Biol 32(4):193–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2006.12.003
Leksrisompong N, Romero-Sanchez H, Plumstead PW, Brannan KE, Brake J (2009) Broiler incubation. 2. Interaction of incubation and brooding temperatures on broiler chick feed consumption and growth. Poult Sci 88(6):1321–1329. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2008-00412
Molenaar R, Reijrink IAM, Meijerhof R, Van Den Brand H (2010) Meeting embryonic requirements of broilers throughout incubation: a review. Brazil J Poult Sci 12(3):137–148. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-635X2010000300001
Molenaar R, Hulet R, Meijerhof R, Maatjens CM, Kemp B, Van Den Brand H (2011) High eggshell temperatures during incubation decrease growth performance and increase the incidence of ascites in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 90(3):624–632. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-00970
Mullur R, Liu Y, Brent GA (2014) Thyroid hormone regulation of metabolism. Physiol Rev 94(2):355–382. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00030.2013
Narinc D, Erdoğan S, Tahtabiçen E, Aksoy T (2016) Effects of thermal manipulations during embryogenesis of broiler chickens on developmental stability, hatchability and chick quality. Animal. 10(8):1328–1335. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731116000276
Nideou D, N’nanle O, Kouame YAE, Chrysostome C, Gbeassor M, Decuypere E, Tona K (2019) Effect of high temperature during first and second halves of incubation on layer chicken embryo physiology. Int J Poult Sci 18(12):626–633. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2019.626.633
Olfati A, Mojtahedin A, Sadeghi T, Akbari M, Martínez-Pastor F (2018) Comparison of growth performance and immune responses of broiler chicks reared under heat stress, cold stress and thermoneutral conditions. Span J Agric Res 16(2):0505. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2018162-12753
Piestun Y, Halevy O, Shinder D, Ruzal M, Druyan S, Yahav S (2011) Thermal manipulations during broiler embryogenesis improves post-hatch performance under hot conditions. J Thermal Biol 36(7):469–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.08.003
Saleh KMM, Tarkhan AH, Al-Zghoul MB (2020) Embryonic thermal manipulation affects the antioxidant response to post-hatch thermal exposure in broiler chickens. Animals. 10(2):2–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010126
Sarica Ş, Polat İ, Ayasan T (2019) Supplementation of natural antioxidants to reduced crude protein diets for Japanese quails exposed to heat stress. Revis Bras Ciênc Avícola 21(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2017-0694
SAS Institute (2003) SAS/STAT software release 9.3. SAS Institute Inc, Cary
Sgavioli S, Santos ET, Domingues CHF, Quadros TCO, Castiblanco DMC, Andrade-Garcia GM, Amoroso L (2016) Effect of high incubation temperature on the blood parameters of layer chicks. Braz J Poult Sci 41(2):41–47. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2015-0095
Shahir MH, Dilmagani S, Tzschentke B (2012) Early-age cold conditioning of broilers: effects of timing and temperature. Br Poult Sci 53(4):538–544. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2012.719604 Volume 53, 2012 - Issue 4
Sözcü A, İpek A (2013) Incubation conditions affect chick quality and broiler performance. J Agric Facul Uludag Univ 27(2):139–146
Tona K, Onagbesan O, De Ketelaere B, Decuypere E, Bruggeman V (2004) Effects of age of broiler breeders and egg storage on egg quality, hatchability, chick quality, chick weight, and chick posthatch growth to forty-two days. J Appl Poult Res 13(1):10–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/japr/13.1.10
Tzschentke B (2007) Attainment of thermoregulation as affected by environmental factors. Poult Sci 86(5):1025–1036. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/86.5.1025
Tzschentke B, Boerjan M (2017) Proceedings of the combined meeting of the incubation and fertility research group (IFRG/WPSA Working Group 6) and the perinatal development and fundamental physiology group (PDP/WPSA working group 12), Hof van Wageningen, the Netherlands, 30 August-1 September. Europ Poult Sci 81(1):1–41. https://doi.org/10.1399/eps.2019.291
Tzschentke B, Halle I (2009) Influence of temperature stimulation during the last 4 d of incubation on secondary sex ratio and later performance in male and female broiler chicks. Br Poult Sci 50(5):634–640. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660903186570
Yahav S, Collin A, Shinder D, Picard M (2004) Thermal manipulations during broiler chick embryogenesis: effects of timing and temperature. Poult Sci 83(12):1959–1963. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/83.12.1959
Yahav S, Shinder D, Tanny J, Cohen S (2005) Sensible heat loss–the broilers paradox. World Poult Sci J 61(3):419–435. https://doi.org/10.1079/WPS200453
Yalçin S, Babacaonoğlu E, Güler HC, Akşit M (2010) Effects of incubation temperature on hatching and carcass performance of broilers. World Poult Sci J 66(1):87–93. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933910000097
Zhang ZY, Jia GQ, Zuo JJ, Zhang Y, Lei J, Ren L, Feng DY (2012) Effects of constant and cyclic heat stress on muscle metabolism and meat quality of broiler breast fillet and thigh meat. Poult Sci 91(11):2931–2937. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02255
Funding
This study was funded by the Board of College and University Development, Savitribai Phule Pune University (IN).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
This study was conducted in agreement with the guidelines of the Ethics Committee of the Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Iran (No. 15ZNU/05.12.2015).
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Amjadian, T., Shahir, M.H. Effects of repeated thermal manipulation of broiler embryos on hatchability, chick quality, and post-hatch performance. Int J Biometeorol 64, 2177–2183 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-02012-w
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-02012-w