Effect of spray sanitising on hatching egg cuticle efficacy and hatchability

1. Eggs from a broiler breeder flock were sanitised using a continuous spray sanitising machine. The effect of this treatment on the ability of the cuticle to resist water and bacterial penetration was investigated throughout the production cycle. 2. The volume of water taken up by eggs that had been sanitised was significantly (P < 0.001) greater than that taken up by the control eggs. The volume of water taken up by the sanitised eggs increased as the flock age increased, whereas water uptake was maximal for the control eggs at 42 weeks of age. 3. There was no correlation between water uptake values and shell thickness or egg weight for either the sanitised or control eggs. 4. Sanitised eggs tended to dominate the "poor cuticle quality" category at all flock ages, when a subjective assessment of cuticle quality was made using the stain Edicol Supra Pea Green. 5. Egg sanitising did not affect shell reflectance values, shell thickness or the percentage of cracked shells. 6. When flock age reached 49 weeks of age, the sanitising process significantly (P < 0.001) reduced hatchability.