Effect of oxygen supplementation in the hatcher at high altitude on the incubation results of broiler eggs laid at low altitude

Abstract

1. The object of this research was to investigate the effects of high altitude with supplementary oxygen during the last stage of incubation of broiler eggs laid at low altitude and incubated at low and high altitude. We analysed thyroid hormones and haematological variables.

2. The treatment groups were: low altitude (LA), high altitude with oxygen supplementation in the hatcher (HA-OX) and high altitude non-oxygen-supplemented (HA-NOX).

3. High altitude affected relative egg weight loss and early embryonic mortality. The hatchability of fertile eggs was lower at high than at low altitude.

4. Oxygen supplementation into the hatcher cabinet during the last stage of incubation decreased late embryonic mortality ratio (LEM₁) and improved survival rates of embryos incubated at high altitude.

5. Eggs incubated at low altitude had a higher hatched chick weight and relative chick weight than those incubated at high altitude. Hatched chick weight and relative chick weight did not change with oxygen supplementation at high altitude.

6. High altitude caused an increase in plasma T₃ and T₄ concentrations as well as in the ratio of T₃:T₄ in embryos. High altitude newly hatched chicks showed a higher T₃:T₄ ratio than low altitude chicks; this ratio decreased with oxygen supplementation at high altitude. Altitude and oxygen supplementation did not affect the mean plasma T₄.

7. Newly-hatched chicks incubated at high altitude showed a higher plasma haematocrit (PCV) than the newly-hatched chicks from eggs incubated at low altitude. High altitude without supplementation increased haemoglobin (Hb), while oxygen supplementation returned the value to low altitude values.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the directors of the commercial breeder farm Hastavuk, who provided the facilities for this study. This work was supported by the Research Fund of The University of Uludağ Project Number: Z2008/21.