Hatchery contamination can result in ingested or inhaled microbes that may modify colonization of the intestinal and respiratory tract, with potential to influence early growth, inflammation, and overall health. Six e...Hatchery contamination can result in ingested or inhaled microbes that may modify colonization of the intestinal and respiratory tract, with potential to influence early growth, inflammation, and overall health. Six experiments were completed to compare chick quality, inflammation, and health between two hatcheries (H1 and H2). On embryonic d0, 45 eggs from the same breeder flock were set at each hatchery. On d0, length, abdominal height, navel and leg abnormalities, and self-righting were measured for 36 chicks/hatchery, yolk sacs were weighed, and crop/cloaca swabs were cultured from 12 chicks/hatchery. On d7, mid-ileum and ceca were cultured from 12 chicks/hatchery. On d0 and d7, body weight (BW) and intestinal weight were measured, lung/air sac swabs and liver were cultured, and liver and air sacs were scored for health. Blood was collected on d0 and d7 for serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in Exp 1 and 2. Data was analyzed using Student’s t-test or χ<sup>2</sup>, significance p < 0.05. On d0, BW, length, yolk free BW, and intestinal weight were greater for H2 chicks (p < 0.05). Liver bacterial recovery was decreased in H2 on d0 (p < 0.05) and there were fewer average leg and righting abnormalities in H2 (p < 0.05). Decreased lactase positive Enterobacteriaceae were noted in H2 in crop/cloaca and lung/air sac swabs (p < 0.05), and of alpha and beta hemolysis in crop/cloaca swabs, and alpha and gamma hemolysis in lung/air sac swabs (p < 0.05) on d0. By d7, only alpha hemolytic bacteria were increased in lung/air sac swabs of H2. Based on factors measured, chicks from H2 showed favorable microbial colonization, starting quality, and improved health on d0. While not sustained through d7, differences in d0 microbial recovery may have shifted microbial development and potentially influenced immune response development. These experiments elucidated the importance of hatchery environment on early chick quality, microbial colonization, overall inflammation, and chick health.展开更多
The exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) within an incubator has a significant impact on embryonic development (ED) and hatching processes. This study examines the influence of non-ventilation (NV) conditi...The exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) within an incubator has a significant impact on embryonic development (ED) and hatching processes. This study examines the influence of non-ventilation (NV) conditions during the first ten days of incubation at high altitudes on Leghorn hens hatching eggs. Five hundred four hatching eggs were equally divided into three treatment groups and placed in twelve incubators (R = 4). The first group was subjected to standard ventilated conditions (V) during the setting phase. The ventilation inlet holes of the remaining incubators in the NV treatments were closed with either micropore (M) or polypropylene (P) tape, referred to as NVM and NVP groups, respectively. These two different airtight settings were intended to allow for a gradual rise in CO2 naturally generated by the embryos. Results indicate that carbon dioxide concentration gradually increased during the first half of incubation, reaching 1.42% in the NVM group and 1.20% in the NVP group, while the V condition group remained at 0.15%. From 10 days of incubation onwards, normal V conditions were restored in all incubators. The highest hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) was shown by the NVP group (55.7%), followed by the V (52.6%) and NVM (38.6%) groups. The NVP group showed a greater yolk-free body mass (YFBM) from 10 days of incubation until the hatch basket transfer. NV conditions during the first 10 days of incubation at high altitude produced higher YFBM with gradually decreasing yolk sac mass. In comparison to the NVM and V conditions, the particular NVP condition showed a beneficial impact on the quality of hatched chicks. Sustaining NVP condition (1.2% of CO2) throughout the first half of incubation at high altitude generated the optimal environment in the incubator ensuring the best hatchability results. This study highlights how important it is for hatchery managers to recognize the influence of low O2 and high levels of CO2 on the development trajectories of Leghorn embryos during early incubation at high altitudes.展开更多
文摘Hatchery contamination can result in ingested or inhaled microbes that may modify colonization of the intestinal and respiratory tract, with potential to influence early growth, inflammation, and overall health. Six experiments were completed to compare chick quality, inflammation, and health between two hatcheries (H1 and H2). On embryonic d0, 45 eggs from the same breeder flock were set at each hatchery. On d0, length, abdominal height, navel and leg abnormalities, and self-righting were measured for 36 chicks/hatchery, yolk sacs were weighed, and crop/cloaca swabs were cultured from 12 chicks/hatchery. On d7, mid-ileum and ceca were cultured from 12 chicks/hatchery. On d0 and d7, body weight (BW) and intestinal weight were measured, lung/air sac swabs and liver were cultured, and liver and air sacs were scored for health. Blood was collected on d0 and d7 for serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in Exp 1 and 2. Data was analyzed using Student’s t-test or χ<sup>2</sup>, significance p < 0.05. On d0, BW, length, yolk free BW, and intestinal weight were greater for H2 chicks (p < 0.05). Liver bacterial recovery was decreased in H2 on d0 (p < 0.05) and there were fewer average leg and righting abnormalities in H2 (p < 0.05). Decreased lactase positive Enterobacteriaceae were noted in H2 in crop/cloaca and lung/air sac swabs (p < 0.05), and of alpha and beta hemolysis in crop/cloaca swabs, and alpha and gamma hemolysis in lung/air sac swabs (p < 0.05) on d0. By d7, only alpha hemolytic bacteria were increased in lung/air sac swabs of H2. Based on factors measured, chicks from H2 showed favorable microbial colonization, starting quality, and improved health on d0. While not sustained through d7, differences in d0 microbial recovery may have shifted microbial development and potentially influenced immune response development. These experiments elucidated the importance of hatchery environment on early chick quality, microbial colonization, overall inflammation, and chick health.
文摘The exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) within an incubator has a significant impact on embryonic development (ED) and hatching processes. This study examines the influence of non-ventilation (NV) conditions during the first ten days of incubation at high altitudes on Leghorn hens hatching eggs. Five hundred four hatching eggs were equally divided into three treatment groups and placed in twelve incubators (R = 4). The first group was subjected to standard ventilated conditions (V) during the setting phase. The ventilation inlet holes of the remaining incubators in the NV treatments were closed with either micropore (M) or polypropylene (P) tape, referred to as NVM and NVP groups, respectively. These two different airtight settings were intended to allow for a gradual rise in CO2 naturally generated by the embryos. Results indicate that carbon dioxide concentration gradually increased during the first half of incubation, reaching 1.42% in the NVM group and 1.20% in the NVP group, while the V condition group remained at 0.15%. From 10 days of incubation onwards, normal V conditions were restored in all incubators. The highest hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) was shown by the NVP group (55.7%), followed by the V (52.6%) and NVM (38.6%) groups. The NVP group showed a greater yolk-free body mass (YFBM) from 10 days of incubation until the hatch basket transfer. NV conditions during the first 10 days of incubation at high altitude produced higher YFBM with gradually decreasing yolk sac mass. In comparison to the NVM and V conditions, the particular NVP condition showed a beneficial impact on the quality of hatched chicks. Sustaining NVP condition (1.2% of CO2) throughout the first half of incubation at high altitude generated the optimal environment in the incubator ensuring the best hatchability results. This study highlights how important it is for hatchery managers to recognize the influence of low O2 and high levels of CO2 on the development trajectories of Leghorn embryos during early incubation at high altitudes.
