Noninvasive Assessment of Chicken Egg Fertility during Incubation Using HSSE-GC-MS VOC Profiling

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Chicken egg fertility assessment is crucial for poultry industry efficiency.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are potential biomarkers for egg fertility.
• Early fertility detection can optimize incubation resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze VOCs in chicken eggs to determine fertility status.
• To develop a reliable method for pre-incubation fertility assessment.
• To explore the relationship between VOC profiles and early embryonic development.

Main Methods:

• Headspace sorptive extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HSSE-GC-MS) was employed.
• VOCs were analyzed in eggs before incubation and during the first 12 days of incubation.
• Multiple logistic regression and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used for modeling.

Main Results:

• 162 VOCs were identified; hexanal was higher in unfertilized eggs.
• Propan-2-ol, propan-2-one, and carboxylic acids were elevated in fertilized eggs.
• A logistic regression model achieved 68-100% accuracy in identifying fertile eggs by day 8.

Conclusions:

• VOC analysis is a promising method for early chicken egg fertility detection.
• Specific VOCs can serve as biomarkers for fertility status.
• Understanding VOCs aids in elucidating biochemical processes during early embryo development.