Ostriches are an important commercial species in South Africa and are becoming increasingly so in other parts of the world. Fertility and hatchability of artificially incubated ostrich eggs, however, is generally regarded as low compared to other poultry species and to ostriches in the wild. Investigation into specific farming practices at present indicated scope for an overall improvement in productivity through a sound breeding strategy. This thesis investigated factors that affect egg production, fertility, and hatchability of artificially incubated eggs in the Little Karoo region of South Africa. Specific breeding pair combinations accounted for the major variations in egg weight, hatchability, chick production and offspring weight at slaughter age. An appreciable proportion of variation in reproductive traits was attributable to the repeatable nature of breeding pair performance from year to year, even from first breeding attempts, suggesting that selection of good breeding stock can be made from an early age. Artificially incubated eggs showed improved hatchability when eggs were collected two to three hours after lay rather than the following morning. Storing position of eggs did not significantly effect hatchability when eggs were stored for a maximum of one week. The critical zero temperature for ostrich eggs, below which no embryonical development takes place, was found to be ± 25°C and cooling eggs to temperatures below 20°C for complete cessation of embryonic development during storage resulted in better hatchabilities compared to eggs stored at 25°C room temperature. Hatchability decreased when incubator temperatures were raised from 36 to 37.3°C. Large temperature fluctuations and gradients, which encompass detrimental temperatures, persist within forced draught wooden incubators of the type most commonly in use in the Little Karoo region. The highest temperatures occurred at the top of these incubators and will consequently have a negative impact on hatchability. The ontogeny of ostrich egg metabolism showed an exponential increase during the first 70% of incubation followed by a decline to 75% of the peak value between days 31 and 38 of incubation. From peak levels of embryonic development it was calculated that single stage incubators needs an airflow of 54.4 1/egg.hour to maintain oxygen levels just below 21% and carbon dioxide levels below 0.5%. Lower embryonic mortalities were observed when eggs were turned twenty-four times/day in an electronic incubator compared to hand turning twice a day. Eggs rotated through increasing angles between 60 and 90° resulted in a linear improvement in hatchability. In incubators where turning angles were fixed at 60°, lower hatchabilities were overcome by incubating eggs for 2 - 3 weeks in a horizontal position before placing them vertically. No specific farming practice could be singled out as the main cause of low fertility or hatchability but rather a combination of certain practices applied wrongly.

As the international poultry industry searches for antibiotic alternatives, dietary probiotic supplementation has exhibited the ability to decrease FCR, increase live weight gain, and regulate inflammatory responses within the gut of broiler chickens. The in ovo (or in egg) supplementation of probiotics has the potential for promoting early colonization of probiotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and providing enhanced protection against pathogens in the hatchery and grow-out facilities. In the present studies, the in ovo injection of either L. animalis + E. faecium combination or L. animalis + B. licheniformis combination on d 18 of incubation does not negatively affect the chick’s ability to hatch out of the egg. These combinations also influence post-hatch performance, where FCR, gastrointestinal tissue weights, and immune-physiological parameters were impacted under non-challenged and coccidiosis-challenged grow-out conditions. These results indicate the physiological and immunomodulatory role that beneficial bacteria may have on a developing chick.

Ultraviolet light (UV) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decrease eggshell bacteria. However, when combined, the optimum amount of each and effects on hatchability are unknown. In Experiment 1, when compared to other concentrations of H2O2 and lengths of UV, the combination of 1.5% H2O2 and 8 minutes of UV yielded optimum results with a 3 log10 CFU/egg reduction in bacteria on the eggshell. In Experiment 2, exposing eggs to this optimum combination yielded a 1000 fold reduction in eggshell bacteria but only a numerical increase in hatch of set and hatch of fertile. In Experiment 3, eggs exposed to repetitive treatments of H2O2 and UV yielded a 4 log reduction in eggshell bacteria but no differences in hatchability or chick characteristics. In conclusion, the combination of H2O2 and UV proved to be effective for eggshell sanitization, especially when used repetitively, and did not alter hatchability.

O objetivo principal foi avaliar as condições bioclimáticas, diferentes tempos de estocagem e transporte de ovos férteis oriundos de matrizes de idades diferentes, e sua influência na eclodibilidade e qualidade de pintos. O experimento foi dividido em três etapas: sala de ovos do matrizeiro, transporte e incubatório, sendo essas realizadas em três estações do ano. A primeira etapa foi desenvolvida na sala de ovos do matrizeiro avícola em Amparo SP. A avaliação bioclimática da sala de ovos foi realizada através da temperatura (T), umidade relativa (UR) e entalpia especifica (h). Foram selecionadas três diferentes idades de matrizes da linhagem Cobb Fast e três intervalos de tempos de estocagem. Selecionaram-se, 4320 ovos, porém, foram pesados aleatoriamente 140 ovos de cada tratamento na entrada e saída da sala. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 3. Na segunda etapa foi utilizado um caminhão baú. Foram transportados 4320 ovos, totalizando 18 caixas referentes às três idades das matrizes e aos três intervalos de tempos de estocagem. Os ovos foram transportados em três viagens, sendo 1440 ovos por viagem. A caracterização bioclimática dos perfis do baú deu-se a partir das variáveis (T, UR e h). Avaliaram-se dois níveis de posicionamento das caixas de ovos (superior e inferior). Também foram avaliados os níveis de vibração e choques nas estradas de terra e asfalto. Foram contabilizados os números de ovos trincados e quebrados de toda a carga. A análise da perda de água dos ovos foi realizada através dos pesos dos mesmos 140 ovos na saída da sala e na chegada ao incubatório. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 2 e a análise da geoestatistica, para (T, UR e h). Para o nível de vibração e choques foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 2 x 4 e 3 x 2. Para os ovos trincados e perda de água dos ovos, o delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 3. A terceira etapa foi desenvolvida no incubatório industrial em Mogi Mirim SP. Foram realizadas as avaliações bioclimáticas na sala de ovos, incubadoras, nascedouros, sala de espera através das variaveis (T, UR e h). Foram selecionadas três diferentes idades de matrizes e 12 tempos de estocagem. Foram pesados 35 ovos individualizados de cada tratamento na entrada e saída (sala de ovo e incubadora). Após o nascimento dos pintos, foram selecionados aleatoriamente 30 pintos por tratamento para avaliar a frequência respiratória (FR), temperaturas de superfície média (TSM) e clocais (TC), e o peso. Foram determinados a eclodibilidade e taxa de eclosão dos ovos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi hierárquico. As condições bioclimáticas, os diferentes tempos de estocagem e transporte de ovos férteis, oriundos de matrizes de idades diferentes, influenciaram a eclodibilidade e qualidade de pintos. / The major aim was to evaluate the bioclimatic conditions, different storage times and the transportation of fertile eggs from breeders of different ages, and its influence on the hatchability and quality of one-day-old chickens. The experiment was divided in three phases: the eggs room of the hatchery, transportation and hatchery, which were carried out in three seasons of the year. The first phase was developed in the eggs room of the poultry hatchery located in the city of Amparo São Paulo State, Brazil. The bioclimatic evaluation of the eggs room of the hatchery was done through the temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and specific enthalpy (h). Three different ages of breeders from Cobb Fast strain were selected and three intervals of storage times. Four thousand and three hundred and twenty eggs were selected, but 140 eggs from each treatment were randomly weighed in the entrance and in the departure of the room. A random design was adopted in a 3 x 3 factorial design. In the second phase a box-truck was used. Four thousand and three hundred and twenty eggs were transported, totaling 18 boxes referred to the three breeders ages and the three storage times. The eggs were transported in three trips, composed by 1440 eggs in each trip. The bioclimatic characterization of trucks profiles was done through the variables (T, RH and h). Two levels of boxes positioning were evaluated (upper and lower). Levels of vibration and shocks were also evaluated in the dirt and asphalt highways. The number of cracked and broken eggs was counted of all the evaluated load. The analysis of water loss of the eggs was done through the weights of the 140 eggs in the departure of the room and in the entrance in the hatchery. A random design was adopted in a 3 x 2 x 4 and 3 x 2 factorial designs. To the cracked eggs and to the water loss a random design was adopted in a 3 x 3 factorial design. The third phase was developed in a company hatchery located in the city of Mogi Mirim São Paulo State. Bioclimatic evaluations were done in the eggs room, hatchers, hatcheries and waiting room through variables (T, RH and h). Three different age of breeders and 12 storage times were selected. Thirty five individualized eggs were weighed of each treatment in the entrance and in the departure (eggs room and hatcher). After the hatching of the one-day-old chickens, 30 chicks were randomly selected per treatment to evaluate respiration rate, mean surface and cloacal temperatures, and weight. The hatchability and the hatching rate were calculated. The experimental design adopted was hierarquical. Bioclimatic conditions, the different storage times and the transportation of fertile eggs from breeders of different ages influenced the hatchability and the quality of one-day-old chickens.

Foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos para avaliação do efeito da temperatura e do período de estocagem de ovos férteis sobre os resultados da incubação, qualidade do pintinho de um dia de idade, bem como sobre o desempenho e rendimento de carcaça de frangos de corte durante as fases inicial e final. Experimento I - Utilizou-se 1620 ovos férteis da linhagem Cobb 500, oriundos de matrizes de 38 semanas de idade distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado em arranjo de tratamentos em fatorial 2x2 com os fatores: período (5 e 10 dias) e temperatura (17 e 20oC) na estocagem de ovos, totalizando 4 tratamentos com nove repetições de 45 ovos cada. Após a estocagem procedeu-se a incubação em máquina de estágio único por vinte e um dias. Experimento II - Utilizou-se 504 pintos machos e fêmeas de um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado com os mesmos 4 tratamentos do experimento I sendo eles: Tratamento 1 (5 dias e 20oC), tratamento 2 (5 dias e 17oC), tratamento 3 (10 dias e 20oC) e tratamento 4 (10 dias e 17oC) com 9 repetições de quatorze aves cada para avaliação de desempenho e características de carcaça. Todos os dados foram analisados pelo Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2008) e submetidos à análise de variância pelo procedimento MIXED ao nível de 5% de significância. Os dados que não respeitaram as premissas da análise estatística foram submetidos à análise não paramétrica de frequência pelo procedimento GLIMMIXED. No experimento I, não foi observado efeito significativo da interação entre os fatores analisados. Os melhores resultados de eclosão e eclodibilidade (77.28 e 77.86%, respectivamente) foram para ovos estocados por 5 dias. O efeito do período também foi observado no embriodiagnóstico, aumentando a ocorrência de mortalidade embrionária nas fases inicial e final em ovos estocados por 10 dias. A qualidade do pintinho foi superior em aves de ovos estocados durante os mesmos períodos. No experimento II, o desempenho não foi afetado significativamente pelos fatores, como também não houve efeito significativo da interação (p<0.05). Para as características de carcaça houve efeito significativo do fator temperatura (P<0,05) para peso vivo e rendimento de pernas. As aves de ovos estocados a 20oC foram mais pesadas aos 42 dias e apresentaram maior rendimento de pernas quando comparadas aos cortes de aves de ovos estocados a 17oC. Concluiu-se que a estocagem de ovos influencia os resultados da incubação bem como a qualidade do pintinho, principalmente no que diz respeito ao período em que permanecem estocados. Por outro lado o manejo pré-incubação não influenciou o desempenho de frangos de corte, mas sim características de carcaça, demonstrando que ambiência, sanidade, nutrição e melhoramento genético são fatores imprescindíveis na produção avícola mundial. / Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature and storage time of fertile eggs on the results of incubation, chick quality day old, as well as on the performance and carcass yield of broilers during the initial phases and final. Experiment I - was used in 1620 fertile eggs from Cobb 500, from breeders 38 weeks of age distributed in completely randomized design with treatments arranged in a 2x2 factorial with the factors: time (5 and 10 days) and temperature (17 and 20 o C) in the storage of eggs, totaling 4 treatments with nine replicates of 45 eggs each. After storage incubation proceeded in single stage machine for twenty-one days. Experiment II - was used 504 male and female chicks from one day of age in completely randomized design with 4 treatments of the same experiment I being: Treatment 1 (5 days, 20 o C), treatment 2 (5 days and 17 o C), treatment 3 (10 days and 20 o C) and treatment 4 (10 days and 17 o C) with 9 repetitions of fourteen birds each for performance evaluation and carcass characteristics. All data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2008) and subjected to analysis of variance by the MIXED procedure at the 5% significance level. Data that did not meet the assumptions of statistical analysis were analyzed by frequency nonparametric by procedure GLIMMIXED. In experiment I, there was no significant interaction between the factors. The best results hatching and hatchability (77.28 and 77.86%, respectively) were for eggs stored for 5 days. The effect of time was also observed in embryo diagnosis, increasing the occurrence of embryonic mortality in early and late in eggs stored for 10 days. Chick quality was higher in birds from eggs stored for long memos. In the second experiment, the performance was not affected by the factors, as there was no significant interaction (p <0,05). For carcass traits was no significant effect of temperature factor (P <0.05) on body weight and yield legs. Birds from eggs stored at 20 o C were heavier at 42 days and showed higher upside compared to cuts of poultry eggs stored at 17 o C. It was concluded that the storage of eggs influences the results of the incubation and chick quality, especially with regard to the period that remain stocked. On the other hand the management pre-incubation did not influence the performance of broilers, but carcass characteristics, demonstrating that ambience, sanitation, nutrition and genetic improvement are indispensable factors in poultry production worldwide.

Os fatores físicos que envolvem a incubação artificial são determinantes no desenvolvimento embrionário, eclosão e desempenho das aves. Muitos deles são bem-conceituados, mas acredita-se que ainda existem questões que possam prover melhorias ou adaptar este processo as novas demandas da produção animal. Nesta pesquisa, a bioacústica é colocada como uma dessas questões, motivando a investigação da estimulação sonora na incubação artificial, dados os efeitos do ruído dos incubatórios comerciais e a adição de vocalizações da espécie em respostas fisiológicas, produtivas e comportamentais de pintos de corte. Inicialmente, o Capítulo 3 apresenta a mensuração do nível de pressão sonora (NPS) no interior dos ovos. Para isso, desenvolveu-se um sensor de tamanho reduzido (decibelímetro-miniaturizado) utilizando a plataforma Arduíno&reg;. O sensor foi calibrado e testado, o que forneceu informações como o isolamento da onda sonora pela casca dos ovos e valores de NPS próximos aos embriões. Em sequência realizaram-se incubações experimentais com a aplicação de tratamentos determinados pela associação de dois NPS do ruído de incubadoras [70 ou 90 dB (A)] com ou sem a adição de vocalizações da espécie (estímulos naturais). Estes tratamentos foram avaliados no crescimento embrionário e em respostas da eclosão (Capítulo 4) e no desempenho de pintos de corte na primeira semana (Capítulo 5). Diferente do esperado, a exposição ao maior NPS, que simulava o ruído de incubatórios comerciais, adiantou o tempo para o início das eclosões, aumentou a eclodibilidade e a qualidade do umbigo e jarretes dos pintos. Todavia, as vocalizações da espécie só se mostraram influentes se associadas ao NPS de 70 dB (A). Nas respostas de desempenho a exposição ao NPS inferior resultou em um maior consumo de ração e em uma pior conversão alimentar, com melhores resultados na exposição a 90 dB (A) ou na presença das vocalizações. Por fim, no Capítulo 6, testes comportamentais como o de imobilidade tônica, isolamento social e campo aberto foram realizados com os pintos eclodidos dos tratamentos de incubação descritos anteriormente. Na realização destes testes consideraram-se três períodos no pós-eclosão (24, 72 e 120 horas) e duas condições (testes em silêncio ou com vocalizações ao fundo). Os efeitos da estimulação sonora foram verificados somente em 24 horas pós-eclosão, de modo que a exposição às vocalizações no desenvolvimento embrionário reduziu a movimentação e o nível de vocalização dos pintos, o que foi associado ao menor estresse. Conclui-se que a estimulação sonora na incubação artificial é capaz de alterar respostas produtivas e o comportamento de pintos após a eclosão. / The physical factors that involve artificial incubation are determinant to the embryonic development, hatching and performance of chicks. Although many of them are highly regarded, there are other issues capable of improving or adapting the process to new animal-production demands. The current research addresses the bioacoustics as one of such issues, which motivated the investigation of the sound stimuli in artificial incubation, relating the noise of the commercial hatcheries and the addition of vocalizations of the species with physiological, productive and behavioral of chicks. Initially, the Chapter 3 presents the measuring the sound pressure level (SPL) inside eggs. To do so, a small sensor (miniaturized decibel meter) was developed in the Arduino&reg; platform. The sensor was calibrated and tested under specific conditions to collect information, such as sound wave isolation by egg shells and SPL values close to the embryos. Experimental incubations with treatments based on the association between two noise SPLs of the hatcheries [70 or 90 dB (A)] with, or without, the addition of species-specific vocalizations (natural stimulus). These treatments were evaluated on embryo growth and hatch responses (Chapter 4) and chicks performance in the first week of life (Chapter 5). Against all expectations, egg exposure to the highest SPL, which simulated the noise of commercial hatcheries, reduced the time necessary for hatching, besides increasing the hatchability, as well as the quality of the navel and hocks, of chicks. On the other hand, species-specific vocalizations were only influential when they were associated with 70 dB SPL (A). The exposure to lower NPS resulted in higher feed intake and lower feed conversion with better results in exposure to 90 dB (A) or in the presence of vocalizations. Finally, in Chapter 6, behavioral tests such as tonic immobility, social isolation and open field tests applied to chicks hatching from the incubation treatments described above. The tests comprised three post-hatching periods (24, 72 and 120 hours) and two conditions (silence or species-specific vocalizations in the background). The effects of incubation treatments were just observed in some responses and 24 hours after hatching. The exposure to the vocalizations during embryonic development reduced chicks\' movement and vocalization level, which was associated with lower stress. It is concluded that sound stimulation in hatcheries can alter productive responses and behavior of chicks after hatching.

O objetivo principal foi avaliar as condições bioclimáticas, diferentes tempos de estocagem e transporte de ovos férteis oriundos de matrizes de idades diferentes, e sua influência na eclodibilidade e qualidade de pintos. O experimento foi dividido em três etapas: sala de ovos do matrizeiro, transporte e incubatório, sendo essas realizadas em três estações do ano. A primeira etapa foi desenvolvida na sala de ovos do matrizeiro avícola em Amparo SP. A avaliação bioclimática da sala de ovos foi realizada através da temperatura (T), umidade relativa (UR) e entalpia especifica (h). Foram selecionadas três diferentes idades de matrizes da linhagem Cobb Fast e três intervalos de tempos de estocagem. Selecionaram-se, 4320 ovos, porém, foram pesados aleatoriamente 140 ovos de cada tratamento na entrada e saída da sala. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 3. Na segunda etapa foi utilizado um caminhão baú. Foram transportados 4320 ovos, totalizando 18 caixas referentes às três idades das matrizes e aos três intervalos de tempos de estocagem. Os ovos foram transportados em três viagens, sendo 1440 ovos por viagem. A caracterização bioclimática dos perfis do baú deu-se a partir das variáveis (T, UR e h). Avaliaram-se dois níveis de posicionamento das caixas de ovos (superior e inferior). Também foram avaliados os níveis de vibração e choques nas estradas de terra e asfalto. Foram contabilizados os números de ovos trincados e quebrados de toda a carga. A análise da perda de água dos ovos foi realizada através dos pesos dos mesmos 140 ovos na saída da sala e na chegada ao incubatório. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 2 e a análise da geoestatistica, para (T, UR e h). Para o nível de vibração e choques foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 2 x 4 e 3 x 2. Para os ovos trincados e perda de água dos ovos, o delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 3. A terceira etapa foi desenvolvida no incubatório industrial em Mogi Mirim SP. Foram realizadas as avaliações bioclimáticas na sala de ovos, incubadoras, nascedouros, sala de espera através das variaveis (T, UR e h). Foram selecionadas três diferentes idades de matrizes e 12 tempos de estocagem. Foram pesados 35 ovos individualizados de cada tratamento na entrada e saída (sala de ovo e incubadora). Após o nascimento dos pintos, foram selecionados aleatoriamente 30 pintos por tratamento para avaliar a frequência respiratória (FR), temperaturas de superfície média (TSM) e clocais (TC), e o peso. Foram determinados a eclodibilidade e taxa de eclosão dos ovos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi hierárquico. As condições bioclimáticas, os diferentes tempos de estocagem e transporte de ovos férteis, oriundos de matrizes de idades diferentes, influenciaram a eclodibilidade e qualidade de pintos. / The major aim was to evaluate the bioclimatic conditions, different storage times and the transportation of fertile eggs from breeders of different ages, and its influence on the hatchability and quality of one-day-old chickens. The experiment was divided in three phases: the eggs room of the hatchery, transportation and hatchery, which were carried out in three seasons of the year. The first phase was developed in the eggs room of the poultry hatchery located in the city of Amparo São Paulo State, Brazil. The bioclimatic evaluation of the eggs room of the hatchery was done through the temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and specific enthalpy (h). Three different ages of breeders from Cobb Fast strain were selected and three intervals of storage times. Four thousand and three hundred and twenty eggs were selected, but 140 eggs from each treatment were randomly weighed in the entrance and in the departure of the room. A random design was adopted in a 3 x 3 factorial design. In the second phase a box-truck was used. Four thousand and three hundred and twenty eggs were transported, totaling 18 boxes referred to the three breeders ages and the three storage times. The eggs were transported in three trips, composed by 1440 eggs in each trip. The bioclimatic characterization of trucks profiles was done through the variables (T, RH and h). Two levels of boxes positioning were evaluated (upper and lower). Levels of vibration and shocks were also evaluated in the dirt and asphalt highways. The number of cracked and broken eggs was counted of all the evaluated load. The analysis of water loss of the eggs was done through the weights of the 140 eggs in the departure of the room and in the entrance in the hatchery. A random design was adopted in a 3 x 2 x 4 and 3 x 2 factorial designs. To the cracked eggs and to the water loss a random design was adopted in a 3 x 3 factorial design. The third phase was developed in a company hatchery located in the city of Mogi Mirim São Paulo State. Bioclimatic evaluations were done in the eggs room, hatchers, hatcheries and waiting room through variables (T, RH and h). Three different age of breeders and 12 storage times were selected. Thirty five individualized eggs were weighed of each treatment in the entrance and in the departure (eggs room and hatcher). After the hatching of the one-day-old chickens, 30 chicks were randomly selected per treatment to evaluate respiration rate, mean surface and cloacal temperatures, and weight. The hatchability and the hatching rate were calculated. The experimental design adopted was hierarquical. Bioclimatic conditions, the different storage times and the transportation of fertile eggs from breeders of different ages influenced the hatchability and the quality of one-day-old chickens.

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2014-09-01T15:12:17Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertacao Mariana Alves Mesquita.pdf: 1355511 bytes, checksum: ad943c28d6a8c5364f0a749ef4d896c9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-01T15:12:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertacao Mariana Alves Mesquita.pdf: 1355511 bytes, checksum: ad943c28d6a8c5364f0a749ef4d896c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aim of this study was to compare the incubation systems in multiple stage and single stage, by evaluating the performance of the incubation process and the production performance of broilers originated from embryonated eggs incubated in the both systems. To evaluate the yield of incubation five experiments were performed, using eggs of Cobb broiler breeders. Each test was divided into two phases. In the first experimental phase, eggs weight, chicks weight, residual yolk weight, length and quality score of the chicks were analyzed using randomized block design with two treatments (single stage and multiple stage), and with blocks being each experimental trial. In each test, 140 eggs and all the chicks borned from those eggs from each treatment were assessed (experimental unit). In the second phase of the trial, a total of 25.360 eggs and was incubated and spread on trays for analysis of hatchability, hatch window, birth distribution and embryo diagnosis. For hatchability data and hatch window, a randomized block design in a 2x3 factorial arrangement (two incubation systems and three positions of the trays into the incubation machine) was used. The repetitions were composed by the trays, totaling 285. For the results of embryo diagnosis all unhatched eggs from 285 selected trays were evaluated. The productive performance was evaluated until 35 days of age by means of a completely randomized 2x2 factorial arrangement (chicks from two stages of incubation and both sexes), with six replicates. Each experimental unit consisted of 25 birds, totaling 600 birds. We concluded that incubation of fertile eggs from Cobb 500 broiler breeders in single stage machines enables to obtain better productivity of the hatchery than incubation in multiple stage machines, as a result of higher hatchability and better neonate quality. The productive performance of broiler up to 35 days of age was not affected by the type of machine used for incubation. / Objetivou-se comparar os sistemas de incubação em estágio múltiplo e estágio único, avaliando-se o rendimento do processo de incubação e o desempenho zootécnico de frangos de corte originados de ovos embrionados incubados nos dois sistemas. Para avaliar o rendimento da incubação foram realizados cinco ensaios experimentais, utilizando-se ovos de matrizes pesadas da linhagem Cobb. Cada um dos ensaios foi dividido em duas fases experimentais. Na primeira fase experimental foram analisados o peso dos ovos, peso dos pintos, peso do resíduo vitelino, comprimento e escore de qualidade dos pintos. Foi utilizado delineamento em blocos casualizados com dois tratamentos (estágio múltiplo e estágio único), sendo cada ensaio experimental os blocos. Em cada ensaio foram avaliados 140 ovos e 140 pintos de cada tratamento (unidade experimental). Na segunda fase experimental foi incubado um total de 25.360 ovos, distribuídos em bandejas para a análise da eclodibilidade, janela de nascimento, distribuição de nascimentos e embriodiagnóstico. Para os dados de eclodibilidade e janela de nascimento utilizou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2x3 (dois sistemas de incubação e três posições das bandejas dentro da máquina de incubação). As repetições foram constituídas pelas bandejas, totalizando 285 bandejas avaliadas. Para os resultados do embriodiagnóstico avaliaram-se todos os ovos não eclodidos das 285 bandejas selecionadas. O desempenho zootécnico foi avaliado até 35 dias de idade utilizando-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x2 (pintos oriundos de dois estágios de incubação e dois sexos), com seis repetições. Cada unidade experimental foi composta por 25 aves, totalizando 600 aves. Conclui-se que a incubação de ovos férteis de matrizes pesadas da linhagem Cobb 500Ò em máquinas de estágio único possibilita a obtenção de melhor produtividade do incubatório em relação às máquinas em estágio múltiplo, como consequência da maior eclodibilidade e melhor qualidade dos neonatos obtidos. O desempenho zootécnico de frangos de corte até os 35 dias de idade não foi influenciado pelo tipo de máquina de incubação utilizada.

Orientador: Danilo Florentino Pereira / Resumo: O incubatório de ovos tem grande importância na cadeia produtiva, pois éa partir dele que a cadeia produtiva de frango é abastecida. Assim, a ineficiência noincubatório afeta todo o segmento. Foi realizado um experimento com o objetivo deobservar os efeitos da idade da matriz pesada sobre o rendimento de incubação e aperda de calor dos ovos durante o trajeto da sala de incubação até o nascedouro.Foram incubados ovos de matrizes pesadas da linhagem Cobb de três idades: 26,32 e 53 semanas. Esses ovos foram separados em dois tratamentos, sendo T0 otratamento controle, que respeitou os procedimentos adotados normalmente pelaempresa incubadora e T1, que utilizou uma caixa térmica para o transporte dos ovosdurante a transferência. Para ambos os tratamentos a transferência durou cerca de10 minutos em todas as três repetições. Após o nascimento foi realizada a contagemdos pintos nascidos, dos ovos não eclodidos, os cálculos de eclosão eeclodibilidade, a quebra dos ovos não eclodidos para averiguar em qual momento dodesenvolvimento ocorreu mortalidade embrionária, e o peso dos pintos nascidos. Osresultados obtidos mostraram que os ovos de 26 semanas tiveram maiorinfertilidade, o que fez com que a eclosão se apresentasse menor, a eclodibilidade emortalidade não foram diferentes entre as idades. O peso dos pintinhos diferiu nastrês idades mostrando que os pintinhos de matrizes mais velhas são mais pesados.Quanto à perda de calor, os resultados mostrar... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The incubatory of eggs has great importance in the production chain,since it is the supplier of the production chain. Thus, inefficiency in the incubatoryaffects the entire production chain. An experiment was performed in order to observethe effects of the broiler breeders and the heat loss of the eggs during the transferfrom the hatchery to the hatcher on the yield of the incubation. Eggs from three ages:26, 32 and 53 weeks of Cobb broiler breeders were incubated. These eggs wereseparated into two treatments: T0 as the control treatment, which complied with theprocedures normally adopted by the incubator company and T1 which used a coolerto transport the eggs during the transfer. For both treatments the transfer took about10 minutes in all the three repetitions. After the birth it was made the counting of thehatched chicks, of the unhatched eggs, the calculations of hatching and hatchability,the breaking of the unhatched eggs; all to determine at what time of the developmentthe embryonary mortality took place, and the weight of the hatched chicks. Theresults obtained showed that the eggs of the 26-week breeders had higher infertility,which led to the lower hatching. Hatchability and mortality did not differ between theages. The weight of the chicks differed in the three ages showing that the chicks ofolder breeders were heavier. Regarding the heat loss, the results showed that all theplaces evaluated had temperature and RH out of the recomme... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Egg hatchability has been correlated with many factors, including clutch size, presence of helpers, timing of breeding and predation risk. Hatching failure is higher in a suburban population of Florida Scrub-Jays than in a wildland population, but the reasons for this pattern are unclear. An analysis of long-term demographic data on scrub-jays in both habitats revealed the factors that best explained variation in hatching failure, and an experiment tested whether two potential site factors, ambient temperature and predation risk, could increase hatching failure in the suburbs. Although a global model was best supported by the data for occurrence of partial hatching failure (PHF), clutch size and site were the most significant parameters in this model, which is consistent with the analysis of rates of PHF. I further examined two potential site differences, ambient temperature and predation risk, which might increase PHF in the suburbs. Human activity may increase the perception of predation risk, thus suburban jays may take fewer, longer off-bouts or make fewer incubation feedings to decrease this perceived risk. These behavioral changes may increase nest temperature, thus increase embryo mortality. I placed thermocouples and video cameras at nests during incubation to gauge both ambient and nest temperature and behavior of scrub-jays at each site. I predicted higher ambient temperatures in the suburbs, because suburban areas often serve as heat islands. I also predicted fewer, longer off-bouts and fewer feedings in the suburbs and where human activity was increased experimentally. Ambient temperatures were higher in the suburbs as a result of higher daily minimums rather than higher maximums. Furthermore, females exposed to increased human activity took fewer but not longer off-bouts than suburban or wildland controls; therefore, they increased their nest attentiveness.