Slow-growing broiler breeders: How to improve hatching egg quality?

Content available in: Español (Spanish)An Argentine investigation verified the incidence of different feeding programs of slow-growing broiler breeders on the […]

An Argentine investigation verified the incidence of different feeding programs of slow-growing broiler breeders on the color of the eggshells, with shell color being a key indicator of shell resistance and hatchability.

• In poultry, there is inconclusive scientific evidence that relates the color of the eggshell to its hatchability.
• It is generally assumed that eggs with a more intense color evolve more favorably in the incubation process with higher fertility and hatchability percentages than lighter eggs.

A group of researchers from the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, UNNE, and the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, INTA carried out a study to evaluate the effect of two feeding programs during the breeding and rearing stages on the color of the shell of fertile eggs in breeding hens of a slow-growing genotype, that is very common in this area of Argentina.

This trial was carried out at the Bird Multiplication Center of the INTA Corrientes Agricultural Experiment Station located in