This thesis deals with the problem of commercial properties of an African ostrich collected on farms in the Czech Republic. Literature review focuses on the history, origin, economic benefits and also the breeding conditions. This work evaluates the utility of selected properties of ostrich farms in the Czech Republic. The values obtained were well described and evaluated by appropriate methods. Egg-laying farms was observed in the range from 15 to 50 pieces (mean 29.07 pieces), the weight of eggs ranged from 1.22 to 1.89 kg (mean 1.51 kg), fertilization of eggs were in the range from 54.55?86.00% (mean 76.36%) and a hatching rate was in the range of 31.82?52.77% (mean 44.61%). Weight of meat obtained from slaughter ostrich ranged from 30 to 50 kg (mean 39.74 kg), the skin area was in the range from 1.10 to 1.50 m2 (mean 1,34 m2) and the production of feathers was from 1.36 to 1.50 kg.

Submitted by Gabriela Fagundes da Silva null (gabriela.fag@hotmail.com) on 2016-04-06T20:20:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO imprimir.pdf: 1071795 bytes, checksum: e66726b6241cc37dc681e6c87064094e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-07T18:09:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_gf_me_dra.pdf: 1071795 bytes, checksum: e66726b6241cc37dc681e6c87064094e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-07T18:09:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_gf_me_dra.pdf: 1071795 bytes, checksum: e66726b6241cc37dc681e6c87064094e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O incubatório de ovos tem grande importância na cadeia produtiva, pois é a partir dele que a cadeia produtiva de frango é abastecida. Assim, a ineficiência no incubatório afeta todo o segmento. Foi realizado um experimento com o objetivo de observar os efeitos da idade da matriz pesada sobre o rendimento de incubação e a perda 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 o tratamento controle, que respeitou os procedimentos adotados normalmente pela empresa incubadora e T1, que utilizou uma caixa térmica para o transporte dos ovos durante a transferência. Para ambos os tratamentos a transferência durou cerca de 10 minutos em todas as três repetições. Após o nascimento foi realizada a contagem dos pintos nascidos, dos ovos não eclodidos, os cálculos de eclosão e eclodibilidade, a quebra dos ovos não eclodidos para averiguar em qual momento do desenvolvimento ocorreu mortalidade embrionária, e o peso dos pintos nascidos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os ovos de 26 semanas tiveram maior infertilidade, o que fez com que a eclosão se apresentasse menor, a eclodibilidade e mortalidade não foram diferentes entre as idades. O peso dos pintinhos diferiu nas três idades mostrando que os pintinhos de matrizes mais velhas são mais pesados. Quanto à perda de calor, os resultados mostraram que todos os locais avaliados possuem temperatura e UR fora do recomendado na literatura, caracterizando o trajeto todo como ponto crítico para controle da temperatura, e que os ovos de T1 sofreram menos perda de calor nas transferências que os ovos de T0. Todavia, o tratamento com caixa térmica não proporcionou melhoria nos indicadores de eclodibilidade e peso de pintinho, para o tempo de transferência estudado. / The incubatory of eggs has great importance in the production chain, since it is the supplier of the production chain. Thus, inefficiency in the incubatory affects the entire production chain. An experiment was performed in order to observe the effects of the broiler breeders and the heat loss of the eggs during the transfer from 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 were separated into two treatments: T0 as the control treatment, which complied with the procedures normally adopted by the incubator company and T1 which used a cooler to transport the eggs during the transfer. For both treatments the transfer took about 10 minutes in all the three repetitions. After the birth it was made the counting of the hatched 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 development the embryonary mortality took place, and the weight of the hatched chicks. The results 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 the ages. The weight of the chicks differed in the three ages showing that the chicks of older breeders were heavier. Regarding the heat loss, the results showed that all the places evaluated had temperature and RH out of the recommended in the literature, characterizing the whole route as critical for the temperature control, and that the eggs of T1 suffered less heat loss in the transfers than the T0 eggs. However, the treatment using the cooler did not improve the hatchability indicators and chick weight for the studied transfer time.

Orientador: Leda Gobbo Bueno / Resumo: A otimização da produção de pintainhos, não implica somente na incubação de ovos férteis. Atualmente, as incubadoras necessitam ter alta produtividade de forma sustentável, incluindo o rendimento de incubação de pintainhos saudáveis com altas taxas de sobrevivência no incubatório e o seu desenvolvimento na fase de cria. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da manipulação térmica no rendimento de ovos incubáveis de pesos distintos de matrizes leves na última fase embrionária. O experimento foi realizado em incubatório comercial de poedeiras leves, localizado em Birigui –SP. Utilizou-se 1950 ovos de matrizes leves da linhagem comercial Dekalb White®. Os ovos foram classificados entre diferentes tamanhos e alocados em bandejas de incubação. No período de 19 a 21 dias foram utilizados máquinas de nascedouros posicionadas frontalmente ao corredor central. Na primeira máquina manteve-se os valores de temperatura e umidade do ar padrão do incubatório (37,0°C e 60% UR) e na segunda máquina a temperatura foi ajustada para 37,7°C com 60% UR. Os tratamentos se diferenciaram de acordo com tempo de permanência na segunda máquina, e peso dos ovos (G e M) controles T1(G) e T6(M), 1 hora T2(G) e T7(M), 3 horas T3(G) e T8(M), 6 horas T4(G) e T9(M) e 9 horas T5(G) e T10 (M). Após o nascimento as pintainhas foram transferidas para granja de postura comercial, para avaliar o seu desenvolvimento corporal. Para o estudo usou-se o Delineamento Fatorial 2X5. Os dados f... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Submitted by Jorge Ikefuti Filho (ikefutifilho@msn.com) on 2018-07-19T17:43:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 005-2018-Jorge Ikefuti Filho 19-07-18.pdf: 2256756 bytes, checksum: 138ed3a16f765780a351d182c74252b2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Fabio Sampaio Rosas null (fabio@dracena.unesp.br) on 2018-07-19T21:11:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Ikefuti_filho_j_me_dra.pdf: 2256756 bytes, checksum: 138ed3a16f765780a351d182c74252b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-19T21:11:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ikefuti_filho_j_me_dra.pdf: 2256756 bytes, checksum: 138ed3a16f765780a351d182c74252b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-09 / A otimização da produção de pintainhos, não implica somente na incubação de ovos férteis. Atualmente, as incubadoras necessitam ter alta produtividade de forma sustentável, incluindo o rendimento de incubação de pintainhos saudáveis com altas taxas de sobrevivência no incubatório e o seu desenvolvimento na fase de cria. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da manipulação térmica no rendimento de ovos incubáveis de pesos distintos de matrizes leves na última fase embrionária. O experimento foi realizado em incubatório comercial de poedeiras leves, localizado em Birigui –SP. Utilizou-se 1950 ovos de matrizes leves da linhagem comercial Dekalb White®. Os ovos foram classificados entre diferentes tamanhos e alocados em bandejas de incubação. No período de 19 a 21 dias foram utilizados máquinas de nascedouros posicionadas frontalmente ao corredor central. Na primeira máquina manteve-se os valores de temperatura e umidade do ar padrão do incubatório (37,0°C e 60% UR) e na segunda máquina a temperatura foi ajustada para 37,7°C com 60% UR. Os tratamentos se diferenciaram de acordo com tempo de permanência na segunda máquina, e peso dos ovos (G e M) controles T1(G) e T6(M), 1 hora T2(G) e T7(M), 3 horas T3(G) e T8(M), 6 horas T4(G) e T9(M) e 9 horas T5(G) e T10 (M). Após o nascimento as pintainhas foram transferidas para granja de postura comercial, para avaliar o seu desenvolvimento corporal. Para o estudo usou-se o Delineamento Fatorial 2X5. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste de hipóteses exato com base na distribuição Binomial para etapa de incubação e algaritimo Neperiano para etapa de crescimento corporal, foi utilizado software Minitab® 17. Como resultados notou-se que para ovos grandes (G), o tempo de permanência de 1 hora (T2), obteve melhores fêmeas comercialmente viáveis e menores índice de mortalidade embrionária na fase tardia e refugagem. Todavia para ovos médios (M) verificou-se melhores resultados com tempo de permanência de 3 e 6 horas (T8 e T9), não houve diferença para etapa de desenvolvimento corporal. / The optimization of the production of chicks does not only imply the incubation of fertile eggs. Currently, incubators need to have high productivity in a sustainable way, including the incubation yield of healthy chicks with high survival rates. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of thermal manipulation on the yield of hatching eggs of different weights of layer breeds in the last embryonic stage, in the hatchery and its development in the breeding phase.The experiment was carried out in a commercial hatchery of layer breeds, located in Birigui-SP. It used 1950 eggs of layers breeds arrays of commercial line Dekalb White®. The eggs were classified among different sizes and allocated in incubation trays. In the period from 19 to 21 days were used starter machines positioned frontally to the central corridor. In the first machine the temperature and humidity values of the hatchery standard (37,0°C with 60% RH) air were maintained and in the second machine the temperature was adjusted to 37.72 ° C with 60% RH. The treatments were differentiated according to residence time in the second machine, and egg weight (G and M) controls T1 (G) and T6 (M), 1 hour T2 (G) and T7 (M), 3 hours T3 (G) and T8 (M), 6 hours T4 (G) and T9 (M) and 9 hours T5 (G) and T10 (M), After birth the chicks were transferred to the commercial laying nucleus to evaluate their body development. For the study, the 2X5 Factorial Design was used. The data were submitted to the test of exact hypotheses based on the Binomial distribution or incubation stage and Neperian algaritimo for stage of corporal growth, the software Minitab® 17. As results it was noticed that for large eggs (G), the residence time of 1 hour (T2), obtained better commercially viable females and lower embryonic mortality rate in the late phase and shelter. However for medium (M) eggs the best results were observed with residence time of 3 and 6 hours (T8 and T9) there was no difference for the stage of corporal development.

Orientadores: Irenilza de Alencar Naas, Marta dos Santos Baracho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T18:24:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gigli_AnaCarolinadeSouza_M.pdf: 14015756 bytes, checksum: 3ff5e92049fc702484a226f1115b5db2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Sendo o incubatório um ambiente comum à cadeia avícola e que fatores relacionados à incubação podem influenciar o desempenho e crescimento de frangos de corte, é importante que o ambiente do incubatório tenha manejo adequado e seja homogêneo. Considerando a carência de informações sobre ambiência em incubação de ovos de matrizes pesadas, este trabalho levanta a hipótese de que o conhecimento das variáveis ambientais em incubatório permite o controle mais adequado da produção. Foram monitorados lotes de ovos férteis de duas linhagens de matrizes pesadas em incubatório comercial, verificando variáveis ambientais tais como: temperatura, velocidade do ar, umidade relativa, concentração de dióxido de carbono e concentração de fungos no interior e exterior dos equipamentos do incubatório para estabelecimento de correlação com dados de eclodibilidade e qualidade de pintinhos de um dia. Não foram apontados pontos de heterogeneidade no interior das máquina de incubação para as variávies coletadas. Os resultados apontam que o baixo desempenho produtivo está relacionado com baixa temperatura nas máquinas de incubação. 98 % e 90 % dos dados de temperatura registrados estavam abaixo do que é recomendado na incubadora e no nascedouro, respectivamente. Queda no desempenho também foi atribuída à umidade relativa e à concentração de dióxido de carbono. Quanto à qualidade sanitária, o nascedouro foi apontado como ponto crítico e apresentou alta concentração de unidades formadoras de colônias de Aspergillus fumigatus. Todas as salas do incubatório apresentaram baixo nível de contaminação que, no entanto, foi apontado como principal indicador de redução de produtividade e qualidade, o que indica iminente replanejamento dos programas de biosegurança para incubatórios de frango de corte / Abstract: Since the hatchery house is a common environment to the poultry chain, and factors related to incubation can have influence both broiler chicken development and growth, it is important to provide adequate handling and homogeneous environment. Considering the lack of information on the environment about broiler chicken incubation, this research investigated that environmental conditions knowledge, in hatchery houses allows a better control of the production. Subsequently, flocks of fertile eggs from different breeder strains have been monitored in a commercial hatchery house, in order to verify environmental variables such as: temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, carbon dioxide production, fungi concentration, inside and outside the hatchery equipments, and how they are correlated with hatchability and one-day-old chick quality. No heterogeneity was found inside hatchery machines regarding all the studied environmental variables. The results pointed that low productive performance is related with incubation equipments low temperature. 98.0 % and 90.0 % registered temperature data was under recomendated values inside both setter and hatcher. Performance decrease was also related to high relative humidity and high carbon dioxide concentration. Results concerning sanitary quality indicated hatcher room as a hatchery critical point due to high level of contamination by Aspergillus fumigatus colonies forming unities. Moreover, the monitored hatchetry rooms as a role presented contamination levels which may play the role of main indicator of negative impact over production and one-day-old chickling quality so that indicates eminet improvement of the biosecurity programs for broiler chicken hatchery house / Mestrado / Construções Rurais e Ambiencia / Mestre em Engenharia Agrícola

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.

The effects of varying dosages of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D3] in commercial diluent injected into the amnion of developing broiler embryos were investigated in a preliminary trial and 2 consecutive main trials. Evaluation of the results of the preliminary trial showed that the in ovo injection of 0.60 micrograms of 25(OH)D3 is capable of increasing its subsequent levels by approximately 3 fold in the circulation of broiler embryos on 19.5 days of incubation. Similarly, results of the 2 main trials showed that the in ovo injection of 0.60 micrograms of 25(OH)D3 significantly improved hatchability on day 21 of incubation and the subsequent performance and bone characteristics of broilers through 28 days of post-hatch age. In conclusion, it is suggested that the in ovo injection of 25(OH)D3 at a 0.60 micrograms dose may be used to effectively improve hatchability, and the performance and bone characteristics of Ross ~ Ross 708 broilers.

Avian Pathogenic E. coli can lead to infections in laying hens and wide-spread economic problems in the table egg industry. A vaccine widely used to combat APEC is the Poulvac E. coli vaccine, which is normally applied via spray vaccination. Application of this vaccine via in ovo injection has not been examined. The purpose of this series of studies was to determine the effects of injecting 50 μL of different dosages of the PECV into Hy-Line W-36 layer hatching eggs on the hatchability and characteristics of the hatchlings, and on the livability and characteristics of the chicks through 21 d growout. Administration of the PECV at 18 d of incubation yielded unsatisfactory results in terms of hatchability and the characteristics of the chicks at hatch and through 21 d of age. Commercial use of the PECV via in ovo injection in Hy-Line W-36 layer hatching eggs is not recommended.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Agriculture)) - Central University of Technology, Free state, 2013 / The objectives of the study were to find the relationship between live performance and testis traits of South African indigenous cockerels on Naked Neck, Ovambo and Potchefstroom Koekoek (Trial 1). Characterise Naked Neck, Ovambo and Potchefstroom Koekoek cockerels’ semen macroscopically and microscopically (Trial 2). To investigate the relationship between phenotypic and sperm traits of the South African indigenous cockerels Naked Neck, Ovambo and Potchefstroom Koekoek. (Trial 3). Quantification of indigenous cockerels sperm traits measured by Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) technology and the relationship to fertility (Trial 4). The cockerels shank, comb and wattle length were recorded with a vernier calliper. A total of 198 ejaculates were collected from 33 cockerels; Ovambo (n=11), Potchefstroom Koekoek (n=11) and Naked Neck (n=11) by means of an abdominal massage technique. Following analysis, 0.25 ml undiluted semen dose from Naked Neck (NN, 11), Ovambo (OV, 11) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK, 11) cockerels were inseminated NN (30), OV (30) and PK (30) hens once per week for 6 weeks. Semen was analysed macroscopically and microscopically. The sperm motility rate was evaluated with the aid of the Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) called Sperm Class Analyser (SCA) system. Breed significantly (P< 0.05) affected the body weight of Ovambo (2.5±0.4kg), Naked Neck (2.0±0.3kg) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (2.3±0.3kg) cockerels, OV was statistically heavier than NN and PK. The semen volume of Naked Neck (0.5±0.2ml) breed was significantly higher, when compared to Ovambo (0.4±0.2ml), but similar to Potchefstroom Koekoek (0.3±0.2ml) breed. The overall sperm motility rate of Ovambo (95.0±7.2%), Potchefstroom Koekoek (86.0±13.7%) Naked Neck (76.4±22.2%) group was significantly different. The normal sperm morphology in the Naked Neck (76.4±22.2%) was significantly lower when compared to Potchefstroom Koekoek (86.0±13.7%) and Ovambo (95.0±7.2%) cockerels. A positive correlation existed between body weight and semen volume for Potchefstroom Koekoek (r=0.1477) cockerels only. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the body weight and total sperm motility for Naked Neck (r=0.3848), Ovambo (r=0.4871) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (r=0.2230) cockerels. However, a negative correlation existed between body weight and semen volume for Naked Neck (r=-0.4502) and Ovambo (r=-0.1244). There was no significant differences (P>0.05) on the shank length (SL), comb length (CL) and wattle length WL) of Naked Neck (8.4, 5.4 and 5.6 cm), Ovambo (8.3, 5.8 and 6.0 cm) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (7.7, 5.9 and 5.6). There was a positive correlation between shank length and wattle length, comb length, semen volume, sperm concentration, semen pH and live normal sperm, inversely, a negative correlation of body weight and total sperm motility was observed. Introspective a negative correlation existed between body weight and total motility. Ovambo (11.45±0.9 g) had the highest live weight of testis, it was significantly different from Naked Neck (9.2±0.8g) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (8.9±0.8 g). For average length of the testis there was a significant difference amongst all breeds, Ovambo (4.0±0.5 cm), Naked Neck (3.4±0.3 cm) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (3.7±0.4 cm). Following Al, significant differences were recorded in Potchefstroom Koekoek and produced eggs that had highest average egg weight (55.5 g), fertility (68.2 %), hatchability (78.6 %), percentage of normal chicks (80.1%) and chick weight (37.9 g) compared to Ovambo (40.4 g, 5 2.1 % , 70.2 %, 71.5 %, 32.8 g and Naked Neck (37.1 g, 50.6 %, 71.1 %, 75.8 % and 23.5 g). In order to achieve the highest level of fertility and hatched of fertile eggs, an adequate number of active males that are producing high quality semen should be maintained in the breeder house at all times. In conclusion, body weight positively affected semen volume and sperm motility rate but this was breed dependent. The Sperm of Potchefstroom Koekoek and Ovambo resulted in a better motility and morphology rate. The Sperm Class Analyser or CASA provided more precise, repeatable and objective information. Evaluation of the sperm motility rate of South African indigenous cockerels holds potential for future use in semen evaluation. Body weight of all three indigenous breeds was positively correlated with sperm concentration, semen pH, and total sperm motility. Shank and wattle length of all three indigenous breeds were positively correlated with semen volume, sperm concentration, and semen pH but not with total sperm motility. However, comb length was positively correlated with semen volume and pH, sperm concentration, and total motility. In conclusion, there is no correlation between live performance and testis traits. Though the study suggests that body weight and testicular length are good indicators of sperm production. Simple and indirect method of estimation is still needed to predict the fertility of the breeding cockerels. In order to achieve the highest level of fertility and hatch of fertile eggs, an adequate number of active males that are producing high quality semen should be maintained in the breeder house at all times. The Potchefstroom Koekoek, Ovambo and Naked Neck donated quality semen as well as in improving the fertility and hatchability traits of the indigenous chicken breeds. Chicken hatched from larger eggs had higher body weight, hatchability and fertility therefore breeders should select bigger egg sizes probably of 50-55g for breeding programmes. Consequently, the local cockerels have higher potential for use in natural mating and Al programmes since seminal traits could be a viable index for selection of breeding cockerels.