Correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders

Abstract

1. The research was carried out to investigate correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders.

2. Egg cholesterol content increased with increased breeder age. The mean yolk cholesterol contents (mg per g yolk) were 10·47 ± 0·28, 15·34 ± 0·65 and 15·64 ± 0·71 mg/g at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively.

3. There were positive correlations between yolk weight and yolk cholesterol content (mg/g yolk) (r = 01·941; P < 0·01) and egg cholesterol content (mg/egg) (r = 0·980; P < 0·01).

4. Negative correlations were found between egg yolk cholesterol content and hatchability of fertile eggs (r = −0·345; P < 0·05), fertility ratio (r = −0·609; P < 0·01) and hatchability of total eggs (r = −0·574; P < 0·01).

5. The mean blood cholesterol levels were 165·1 ± 11·04, 166·5 ± 11·97 and 179·5 ± 11·33 mg/dl at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor Dr Seref Gucer and Associate Professor Dr Cevdet Demir for technical assistance with determining the yolk cholesterol analysis method. We would like to thank the directors of the commercial breeder farm Hastavuk who provided facilities for this study. This work was supported by the Research Fund of the University of Uludag Project No. Z2003/53.