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Sanitization at different times after floor egg collection for hatchability, microbiological quality, and performance
Claudio M A Franco1, Itallo C S Araújo1, Tainá S B Lopes2
1Departamento de Zootecnia, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Poultry Science
|November 4, 2024
Summary
Sanitizing floor eggs quickly after collection is crucial for broiler health. Delaying sanitization increases yolk sac contamination, impacting broiler viability by 35 days.
Area of Science:
- Poultry Science
- Animal Microbiology
- Hatchery Management
Background:
- Floor eggs present a higher contamination risk than clean nest eggs.
- Timely sanitization is critical for minimizing microbial load on eggshells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of egg type (clean nest vs. floor) and sanitization timing (30 vs. 120 minutes) on microbiological quality.
- To assess the effects on hatchability and broiler performance up to 35 days of age.
Main Methods:
- A 2x2 factorial design with 3,440 Cobb500 eggs, varying egg type and sanitization time.
- Microbiological analysis of eggshells and yolk sacs, hatchability assessment, and broiler performance tracking (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion).
Main Results:
- Egg type and sanitization time did not affect eggshell or yolk sac microbiology or hatchability.
- Floor eggs showed a higher incidence of contamination in unhatched eggs.
- Delayed sanitization of floor eggs (120 min) reduced broiler performance by 35 days.
Conclusions:
- Incubating floor eggs sanitized at 30 or 120 minutes did not impact hatching outcomes.
- Delayed sanitization of floor eggs increases yolk sac contamination, reducing broiler viability.
- Sanitizing floor eggs within 30 minutes of collection is recommended over a 120-minute delay.
