EFFECT OF STORAGE, PRE-HEATING AND TURNING DURING HOLDING PERIOD ON THE HATCHABILITY OF BROILER BREEDER EGGS

Two hundred forty fertile eggs of an average weight of 52-55g were taken from 32 weeks old broiler breeder flock. these eggs were divided into four groups i.e. a (without turning and preheating), b (no turning but preheated), c (turned but without preheating), and d (given both treatments preheating and turning) with 60 eggs in each group. the eggs were stored with broad end upward at 16-20°c and 65-75% humidity. after storage for 5 days, the pre-heating of eggs of groups b and d was performed in an incubator where hot air at 30°c temperature was circulated for 6-7 hours to provide gradual warmth to the eggs before setting in the same incubator. the temperature of the incubator was maintained at 37.6°c with relative humidity of 70%. the eggs of groups c and d were turned on hourly basis at an angle of about 45° till 17 days of incubation. the hatchability values of eggs of groups a, b, c and d were 88.30 ± 0.30, 76.30 ± 0.30, 83.30 ± 0.30 and 79.90 ± 0.10%, respectively. statistical analysis of the data by chi-square test showed non-significant differences among treatments.