How to...
Measure Egg Water Loss
01
Why Measure Egg Water Loss?
•Controlling incubator humidity to ensure that egg weight loss is in the
optimal range will maximise hatch and chick quality.
•Routine monitoring of egg water loss is the best way to check that
incubator humidity is correct - it uses the egg to tell us what is required.
Incubator
Humidity Correct
Air cell too large and
embryo is dehydrated
Air cell too small and
embryo cannot inflate lung
Action:
Decrease Humidity
Incubator
Humidity Too Low
No Action Required
Action:
Increase Humidity
• Changes in egg weight during incubation are due entirely to the loss of water from
the egg. Therefore egg weight loss can be easily measured by weighing the egg.
•Incubated correctly, eggs lose on average 11 - 12% of their egg weight
between laying and transfer at 18 days.
Note: A small amount of water (typically 0.5% per week of storage) is lost from the
egg during storage. Any water loss during storage should be taken off that lost
during incubation, e.g. if eggs are stored for a week average water loss between
set and transfer at 18 days would be 10.5 - 11.5%.
01
Why Measure Egg Water Loss?
Incubator
Humidity Too High
THE PROCEDURE FOR
MEASURING EGG WATER LOSS
How to...
Measure Egg Water Loss
• To accurately measure egg water loss:
- monitor egg water loss from 3 incubator trays from each breeder flock
- use a balance that can weigh a whole incubator tray of eggs to an accuracy of
at least 5 grams (0.2 oz)
Step 1:
Fill setter tray with the fresh eggs - exclude any cracked
or poor shell quality eggs.
01
Step 2
Step 2:
Weigh full setter tray - record weight and number of eggs
on tray.
The Procedure For
Measuring
Egg Water Loss
Step 3:
Step 3
Label the tray so that it can be relocated at transfer.
Note: Trays should be located in the incubator so that one is
positioned near the top, one near the middle and one near the
bottom of the incubator rack.
The Procedure For Measuring Egg Water Loss
Step 4:
If eggs are fertility tested prior to transfer, do not remove
any clear or non-viable eggs.
Step 5:
At 18-day transfer, reweigh the tray of eggs - record
weight. Reject any tray weights if there are cracked
eggs on the tray.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 6:
Weigh empty setter tray - record weight.
% Water
Loss =
ull tray weight Full tray weight
F
- at transfer
at set
x 100
Full tray weight
Empty tray
at set
weight
For Example: Empty tray = 1205g;
Full tray at set = 8201g; Full tray at transfer = 7382g
% Water loss
=
% Water loss
=
% Water loss
=
8201 - 7382
8201 -1205
819
6996
11.7%
This calculation also applies to imperial
measurements
02
x 100
x 100
Note: If eggs are not transferred
and weighed at 18 days, calculated
water loss should be corrected
to 18 days to allow accurate and
appropriate quality control. This
is done by dividing by the actual
number of days at transfer and
then multiplying by 18. If eggs are
transferred at 17 days then water
loss corrected to 18 days would be:
(11.7% ÷ 17) x 18 = 12.4%
How to...
Measure Egg Water Loss
Calculation of Egg Water Loss
01
Example of water loss recording sheet. This sheet also records chick
yield information as the two quality control processes can be easily
combined – see How To... Measure Chick Yield
Egg Weights and Chick Weights
Farm
ACME Farming
Windyhill Farm
26 weeks
Age
1, 2 and 3
Setter No.
Date Set
26th Oct 2009
Date Hatched
16th Nov 2009
Date Broken Out
16th Nov 2009
1
Hatcher No.
Tray No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
No. of Eggs
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
Weight of Empty Tray
1205
1210
1205
1208
1206
1208
1212
1201
1205
Weight of Full Tray
8201
8364
8175
8191
8242
8336
8089
8263
8307
Transfer Weight
7382
7499
7324
7451
7510
7637
7113
7183
7206
120
116
123
122
115
118
109
104
106
4268
4238
4384
4395
4193
4371
3748
3667
3724
Culls and Deads
1
0
1
1
2
1
2
3
2
Unhatched Eggs
11
16
8
9
15
13
21
25
24
Egg Weight Loss (%)
11.7
12.1
12.2
10.6
10.4
9.8
14.2
15.3
15.5
Mean Egg Weight (g)
53.0
54.2
52.8
52.9
53.3
54.0
52.1
53.5
53.8
Mean Chick Weight (g)
35.6
36.5
35.6
36.0
36.5
37.0
34.4
35.3
35.1
Chick Yield (%)
67.1
67.4
67.5
68.1
68.4
68.6
66.0
65.9
65.3
No. of Chicks Hatched
Total Chick Weight
03
Calculation of Egg Water Loss
Company
How to...
Measure Egg Water Loss
Interpreting Results
The graph below shows the water loss results from 3 different
incubators:
16
X
X
Water Loss (%)
15
X
14
13
12
11
01
Increase Humidity
Investigate
X
X
X
Ideal
X
X
X
10
Investigate
9
Decrease Humidity
8
7
1
2
3
Setter Number
Incubator 1 has water losses within the acceptable range.
No action required.
Incubator 2 has slightly low water loss but close to the acceptable range. Action: Check the water loss from this incubator again, make sure humidifiers
are working correctly and if it is still low, decrease incubator humidity. Note: this water loss would be normal for long stored eggs.
Interpreting Results
Incubator 3 has very high water loss. Action: Make sure there were no cracked eggs on these trays (these will
lead to an artificially high estimate of water loss), make sure humidifiers are
working correctly and increase incubator humidity.
Note: if cracked eggs are found to be present the data for that tray should be ignored
and a repeat measurement taken.
• To alter egg weight loss by 1%, humidity should be changed by
o
o
about 5%RH or 2 F (1 C) wet bulb.
04
How to...
Measure Chick Yield
02
Why Measure Chick Yield?
•Chick yield (the weight of the chick at hatch as a percentage of egg setting
weight) is a simple method of checking whether hatch timing and incubation
parameters are correct. •Chicks with a low yield have either been:
1. hatched for a long time before they were removed from the hatcher or,
2. incubated at a high temperature or a low humidity. These chicks are at risk of being dehydrated and perform poorly on the farm.
•Chicks with a high yield have either:
1. only just finished hatching when they were removed from the hatcher or,
2. have been incubated at a low temperature or a high humidity. If placed on the farm quickly these chicks will not be ready to eat and drink and
will tend to be lazy.
> 68%
High
This chick will be lazy and
not ready to feed and drink
when placed on farm.
> 67 - 68%
Ideal
This chick will be active
and ready to feed and drink
when placed on farm
> 67%
Low
This chick will be
dehydrated and have little
yolk reserve. Often very
active and noisy.
Note: If chicks are to be placed onto the farm the day after hatch 1% should be added
to the above ranges, i.e. optimum chick yield would be 68-69%.
If eggs are stored 0.5% should be added for each week of storage i.e. for eggs stored
for 2 weeks optimum chick yield would be 68-69%.
01
Why Measure Chick Yield?
Optimum Chick Yield
How to...
Measure Chick Yield
The Procedure For
Measuring Chick Yield
• To accurately measure chick yield and check the hatch timing of a flock:
- monitor the chick yield from 3 incubator trays
- use a balance that can weigh a whole incubator tray of eggs or a box of chicks
to an accuracy of at least 5 grams (0.2 oz)
Note: This procedure can be easily combined with the monitoring of egg water loss.
Step 1:
Weigh empty setter tray – record weight.
Step 1
Note: This can be done at setting or transfer.
Step 2:
Fill setter tray with fresh eggs. Exclude any cracked or
poor shell quality eggs.
Step 3:
Weigh full setter tray – record weight and number of eggs
on tray.
Step 3
Step 4:
Label the tray so that it can be relocated at transfer.
The Procedure For Measuring Chick Yield
Note: Trays should be located in the incubator so that one
is positioned near the top, one near the middle and one
near the bottom of the incubator rack.
Step 5:
At transfer ensure the hatcher tray is labelled so that it
can be associated with the correct egg tray.
Step 6
Step 6:
At hatch take-off, zero the balance with the empty chick
box.
Note: If the chicks are to be vent sexed then the chicks
need to be weighed before counting.
Step 7:
Count all the good chicks from the hatcher basket into
the box - record number.
Step 8:
Weigh the full chick box – record weight.
02
Step 8
02
How to...
Measure Chick Yield
Calculation of Chick Yield
02
Average Chick Weight
% Chick Yield = x 100
Average Fresh Egg Weight
For Example: Empty tray = 1205g;
Full tray @ set = 8201g; Number of eggs = 132;
Full chick box @ hatch = 4268g; Number of chicks = 120
% Chick Yield
=
% Chick Yield
=
% Chick Yield
=
4268 ÷ 120
((8201 -1205) ÷ 132)
35.6
53.0
x 100
This calculation
also applies
to imperial
measurements
x 100
67.1%
Example of chick yield recording sheet. This sheet also records egg water loss
information as the two quality control processes can be easily combined - see
How To... Measure Egg Water Loss.
Egg Weights and Chick Weights
Farm
ACME Farming
Windyhill Farm
26 weeks
Age
1, 2 and 3
Setter No.
Date Set
26th Oct 2009
Date Hatched
16th Nov 2009
Date Broken Out
16th Nov 2009
1
Hatcher No.
Tray No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
No. of Eggs
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
Weight of Empty Tray
1205
1210
1205 1208 1206 1208 1212
1201
1205
Weight of Full Tray
8201 8364 8175 8191 8242 8336 8089 8263 8307
Transfer Weight
7382 7499 7324 7451 7510 7637 7113 7183 7206
No. of Chicks Hatched
Total Chick Weight
120
116
123
122
115
118
109
104
10
106
4268 4238 4384 4395 4193 4371 3748 3667 3724
Culls and Deads
1
0
1
1
2
1
2
3
2
Unhatched Eggs
11
16
8
9
15
13
21
25
24
Egg Weight Loss (%)
11.7
12.1
12.2
10.6
10.4
9.8
14.2
15.3
15.5
Mean Egg Weight (g)
53.0
54.2
52.8
52.9
53.3
54.0
52.1
53.5
53.8
Mean Chick Weight (g)
35.6
36.5
35.6
36.0
36.5
37.0
34.4
35.3
35.1
Chick Yield (%)
67.1
67.4
67.5
68.1
68.4
68.6
66.0
65.9
65.3
03
Calculation of Chick Yield
Company
How to...
Measure Chick Yield
Interpreting Results
The graph below shows the chick yield results from 3 different
flocks:
02
Chick Yield (%)
70
Investigate Cause
69
X
X
X
68
67
Repeat
X
X
X
Ideal
Repeat
X
X
66
X
65
1
2
Investigate Cause
3
Flock id
Flock 1 has chick yields within the acceptable range.
No action required.
Flock 2 has slightly high chick yield but close to the acceptable range. Action: Check the chick yield from this flock again and if it is still high, use
table below to investigate the cause of the high chick yield. Note: This high chick yield would be acceptable if the chicks do not arrive on the farm on
the same day as hatch.
Flock 3 has low chick yield and these chicks will be at risk of dehydration. Action: Use the table below to determine the cause of the low chick yield.
Interpreting Results
Factors Affecting Chick Yield
Low Chick Yield
High Chick Yield
1. Incubating the eggs too long.
2. High incubation temperature.
1. Incubation time too short. This may be as a
consequence of long egg storage, or eggs
from very young or old breeders.
3. Low incubator humidity.
2. Low incubation temperature.
3. High incubator humidity.
04
How to...
Measure Eggshell Temperature
03
Why Measure Eggshell temperature?
•Correct setter temperature is critical for hatching good quality chicks.
•Setter temperature is what is experienced by the embryo inside the egg. It is not
the air temperature of the setter.
•Eggshell surface temperature is closely related to internal egg temperature (see
graph below). It is therefore a useful tool for determining whether or not setter
temperature is correct.
•Shell temperature can be easily measured using a medical infrared thermometer.
•Optimum shell temperature for maximum hatch and chick quality is 37.8 38.3oC (100 - 101oF) throughout the whole setting period.
Measured internal egg and eggshell temperature during the incubation period
when incubated at a constant temperature – based on Tazawa & Nakagawa
(1985) and French (1997)
Temperature (°C)
100
37.8
99
37.2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Day of Incubation
• Knowledge of eggshell temperatures allows setter temperatures to be adjusted to
optimize conditions for differences in embryo heat production and machine design.
•Measurement of eggshell temperature should be used to establish the correct
machine temperature setting for the type of egg that is being incubated and for
the design of setter. •It should not be used for calibrating setters or checking machine temperature
uniformity.
01
Temperature (°F)
Incubator
Egg
Shell
Why Measure Eggshell temperature?
101
38.3
How to...
Measure Eggshell Temperature
The Procedure for Measuring
Eggshell Temperature
•The only equipment required for
measuring eggshell temperature is a
medical infrared ear thermometer.
•It is recommended to use a Braun
ThermoScan ExacTemp (Model IRT
4520, type 6022).
•Correct region for measuring shell
temperature is shown below.
The Procedure for Measuring Eggshell Temperature
Region for measuring
eggshell temperature
02
03
How to...
Measure Eggshell Temperature
Where and When to Check
Eggshell Temperature
03
•The objective is to sample eggs within the
machine from locations on the left and right, front
and back and top, middle and bottom of the
setter. The exact locations will vary with machine
design but attempt to cover all areas of the setter.
•Do not chose trays at the very top or bottom of
the trolley or rack.
38.3oC/100.9oF
•To get a complete profile of
the setter, eggs will need to
be monitored at each stage of
incubation.
30.9oC/87.6oF
Thermal image of eggs on a setter tray.
Note that the temperature of the air cells
and eggs at the edge of the tray is cooler
than temperature at the equator of eggs in
the center of the tray.
03
The Procedure for Measuring Eggshell Temperature
•Choose eggs in the center of the
incubator tray to monitor; those at
the edges of the tray will be cooler. How to...
Measure Eggshell Temperature
03
Step 1:
Check that the measuring tip of the thermometer is clean and that it has
a new plastic cover on. (Some older thermometer types may need to be
kept at incubation temperature for 30 minutes prior to use to prevent an
error message).
Step 2:
Plan where to sample eggshell temperatures before opening the setter
door, so that it will be possible to work quickly once inside. Ensure each
area of the setter is monitored.
The Procedure for Measuring Eggshell Temperature
Step 3:
If it is not possible to work inside the setter safely while it is operating,
turn it off and measure as many eggs as possible in 10 minutes. If
it is not possible to measure eggs at all locations within 10 minutes,
close and restart the setter and return after 30 minutes to complete the
measurements.
Step 4:
Measure shell temperature at the equator of the egg, not at the top or
bottom. Make sure the tip of the thermometer is flat against the eggshell
surface.
Step 5:
Sample 3 eggs from the center of each setter tray. For eggs in the
second half of incubation, reject any measurement that is significantly
cooler (> 0.4°C/0.7°F) than the other eggs on the tray as it is likely there
is no embryo in the egg.
Step 6:
Record results. Determine average eggshell temperature and spread of
eggshell temperatures.
Step 7:
Compare results against graph opposite to determine if incubation
temperature correct.
04
How to...
Measure Eggshell Temperature
03
39.4
103
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
36.1
Shell Temperature (oF)
Shell Temperature (oC)
Interpreting Eggshell
Temperature
Danger
Risk
Ideal
Risk
Delayed Hatch
97
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Day of Incubation
•The objective is for most of the eggs to be within the ideal temperature range
(37.8 – 38.3oC/100 – 101oF) throughout the incubation period.
•In single-stage systems this is achieved by adjusting the temperature program
at each age of incubation.
•In multi-stage systems where only one temperature setting can be used, there
may have to be a compromise between the requirements for the start and
the end of incubation. It is probable that at the start of incubation it will be
necessary to have eggs cooler than ideal in order to ensure that eggs do not
become too hot at the end of incubation.
•High incubation temperature is normally more damaging than low incubation
temperature.
05
Interpreting RESULTS
•If there is a wide spread of eggshell temperatures across one machine it may
indicate that it needs maintenance.
How to...
Examples of
temperature profiles
Measure Eggshell Temperature
03
DangerRisk
IdealRisk
Note: Prior to any alteration of setter operating
temperatures, ensure that there are no
maintenance problems with the machine.
Note: Prior to any alteration of setter operating
temperatures, ensure that there are no
maintenance problems with the machine and
multi-stage loading of the setter is correct.
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
97
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Temperatures within ideal range: no adjustments
required.
Temperatures within ideal range: no adjustments
required.
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
103
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
36.1
97
1
39.4
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Shell Temperature (oF)
103
Shell Temperature (oF)
39.4
Shell Temperature (oC)
Day of Incubation
Shell Temperature (oC)
Day of Incubation
36.1
97
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Temperatures from day 14 onwards too high:
lower incubator temperature to bring day 14–18
temperatures into ideal range.
Temperatures at the start of incubation in low risk area
and at the end of incubation within the high risk area:
no adjustment.
103
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
36.1
97
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
39.4
103
38.9
102
38.3
101
37.8
100
37.2
99
36.7
98
36.1
Shell Temperature (oF)
39.4
Shell Temperature (oC)
Day of Incubation
Shell Temperature (oC)
Day of Incubation
Shell Temperature (oF)
Interpreting RESULTS
103
36.1
97
1
39.4
Shell Temperature (oF)
103
Shell Temperature (oF)
39.4
Shell Temperature (oC)
multi-stage machines
Shell Temperature (oC)
single-stage machines
36.1
06
Delayed Hatch
97
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Day of Incubation
Day of Incubation
Temperatures from day 8 -10 too low: increase
incubator temperature to bring day 8 - 10
temperatures into ideal range.
Temperatures from day 16 onward in danger range:
lower incubator temperature to bring day 16 onward
temperatures into risk range.
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
04
Why measure fertility and early
deads levels?
•An unfertilised egg cannot produce a chick.
•Flock fertility is governed by management of males and females on the breeder
farm and cannot be affected by egg handling, egg storage or incubation
conditions.
•Early embryo mortality can be affected by egg handling, egg storage or
incubation conditions.
An individual egg being
candled.
01
Why measure fertility and early deads levels?
•The action required to correct poor fertility is not the same as that required
to correct excess early dead, therefore it is important to distinguish between
infertility and early deads.
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
Procedure for AssessING
Flock Fertility
04
• What is an infertile egg?
- An infertile egg is one that has not been fertilised
• What is an early dead embryo?
- An early dead is an egg which has been fertilised but in which the
developing embryo dies in the first week of incubation
- After an embryo dies it will deteriorate over time, therefore the longer eggs
are incubated the more difficult it becomes to distinguish early deads from
infertiles
•During candling eggs with a developed
embryo will appear dark.
•Clears are not always infertile
•A clear egg may be infertile or contain an
early dead embryo.
Procedure for AssessING Flock Fertility
•Therefore, to accurately identify infertility
and early deads a breakout of candled
clears needs to be completed.
Dark eggs contain a live embryo.
•There are 2 methods for assessing flock fertility:
1. in un-incubated eggs
2. in clear eggs candled between 10 and 14 days of age
Advantages
Disadvantages
Quick feedback
Destroys potential hatching eggs
Can be done on farm
Un-incubated
Can see mottling and egg quality issues
eggs
Small sample size (so the sample result
can be very different from the flock
average)
Takes practice
Clears
10-14 days
Does not destroy potential hatching eggs
No results until approx. 17 days after lay
Bigger sample size (so better precision)
Not necessarily standard practice to
candle at 10-14 days
Easy to learn
Internal egg quality issues difficult to see
02
How to...
Procedure for AssesSing Flock
Fertility
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
04
Method 1 - Identifying Infertility in Un-incubated Eggs
•Eggs are fertilised high in the reproductive tract and embryonic development
continues until the egg is laid.
•This makes it possible to identify infertile eggs before incubation.
Step 1:
Take a sample of 100 fresh normal hatching eggs per house, of known egg
age.
Step 2:
Break eggs, one at a time, over a bucket allowing the albumen to drop into the
bucket and catching the yolk in your hand. Roll the yolk over until the germinal
disc can be seen.
Infertile Blastodisc
Fertile Blastoderm
•Dense, white spot, 2-3 mm (0.1 in)
•White, symmetrical ring 4-5 mm (0.2
diameter
in) diameter, with a clear central area
•Rarely perfectly round, jagged edges •Round, with smooth uniform edges
•Bubbles
•No bubbles
03
Procedure for AssesSIng Flock Fertility - Method 1
Note: The task is easier in good natural light. If this is not available, a single-led
(light emitting diode) torch will illuminate the disc without causing reflection off the
yolk surface. A magnifying glass can also be helpful.
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
Example of egg fertility recording sheet.
Record incidence of fertile and infertile eggs and compare to
targets (see page 8).
ACME Farming
Company
Procedure for AssesSing Flock Fertility - Method 1
Date
31st January 2010
Farm
W/H
26W
S/V
36W
U/H
46W
R/R
56W
No. of Eggs Sampled
100
100
100
100
Fertile
81
95
81
87
Infertile
19
5
19
13
- Motted Yolk
1
2
20
30
- Watery Albumen
-
-
-
-
- Sticky Yolk
-
-
-
-
Take the chance to observe and record any yolk mottling. If severe, this can
increase very early dead embryos.
04
04
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
Procedure for Assessing Flock
Fertility
04
Method 2 - Identifying Infertile eggs and Early Dead Embryos
in clear eggs candled between 10 and 14 days of incubation
•Fertility can also be assessed in eggs candled clear between 10 and 14 days of
incubation.
•It is not advisable to try and assess fertility on eggs candled any later than
this because post mortem degeneration of the embryo makes it difficult to
distinguish infertile eggs from those with very early embryonic development.
Step 1:
Candle three setter trays per flock, between 10 and 14 days incubation.
Step 3:
Open the eggs with forceps at the air cell, taking care when removing the
membrane that no egg contents are discarded.
Step 4:
Identify fertility or stage of development at death, using the photos on
reverse page.
Degeneration after death will change the appearance of the early dead embryos
and this is also shown in the photos.
05
Procedure for Assessing Flock Fertility - Method 2
Step 2:
Remove and hold the clears, keeping them separate to flock and setter
tray.
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
04
Normal appearance
of live embryo
Appearance after
8-10 days incubation
Appearance after
14-15 days incubation
Infertile
Procedure for Assessing Flock Fertility - Method 2
Death After
24 Hours
Development
Death After
48 Hours
Development
Death at Blood
Ring Stage*
(2.5-4 days)
Death at Black
Eye Stage**
(5-12 days)
Note:
* With blood ring stage deaths, once the blood vessels degenerate, often the
only sign of embryo development is a change in colour to a creamy yellow. This
does not indicate contamination.
** Embryo death at the black eye stage is often associated with bacterial rots
– in addition to discolouration, the egg contents smell bad and have often
disintegrated.
06
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
04
Example of candling analysis recording sheet.
Record incidence of fertile and infertile eggs and compare to targets
(see page 8).
Transfer Candling Analysis
ACME Farming
Farm
Underhill
Age
46 weeks
150
Setter Tray Size
Tray No.
1
2
3
4
Date Set
31st Jan 2010
Date Candled
11th Feb 2010
Date Broken Out
11th Feb 2010
4
Setter No.
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
% of Eggs Set
No. of Eggs Removed
36 34 30
100
22.2
Infertile
27 22 21
70
15.6
24h Early Dead
1
2
2
5
1.1
48h early Dead
2
2
2
6
1.3
“Blood Ring” (2.5-4 days)
5
6
7
17
3.8
“Black Eye” (5-12 days)
1
2
1
4
0.9
Notes:
07
Procedure for Assessing Flock Fertility - Method 2
Company
How to...
Identify Infertile Eggs and
Early Deads
INTERPRETING RESULTS
•The table below gives top quartile targets for hatchability losses when
performing detailed diagnostic/research type egg breakouts
(% of total number of eggs set).
04
Stage of Development of Embryo
Flock Age
Infertile
24
hours
48
hours
Blood
Ring
Black
Eye
Feathers
Young 25-30 weeks
6
1
2
2.5
1
1
Peak 31-45 weeks
2.5
0.5
1
2.0
0.5
0.5
Post Peak 46-50 weeks
5
0.5
1
2.5
1
0.5
Ageing 51-60 weeks
8
0.5
1
3.0
1
0.5
•If the target for a category is exceeded the cause of this should be investigated.
Hatchery
Young/old Males
Males heavy or losing condition
Females under/over weight or losing
condition
Nutrition
Drugs/toxins in feed
Disease
Legs/feet in poor condition
INTERPRETING RESULTS
Causes
of High
Infertility
Causes
of Early
Embryo
Mortality
(1-4 days)
Long egg storage (> 7 days)
Egg store temperature too hot, too cold or
fluctuating
Formalin exposure 12-96 hours of
incubation
Slow to reach incubation temperature
Causes of
Embryo
Mortality
5-7 days
Long egg storage (> 7 days)
Egg store temperature too hot, too cold or
fluctuating
Formalin exposure 12-96 hours of
incubation
Slow to reach incubation temperature
Eggs contaminated during storage
Condensation on the egg surface
Turning angle too shallow, frequency too
much or too little
08
Farm
Yolk mottling due to stress (over mating,
stocking density) or nicarbazine
Egg collection not often enough (should be
>3 times/day)
Nutrition
Yolk mottling due to stress (over mating,
stocking density) or nicarbazine
Egg collection not often enough (should be
>3 times/day)
Nutrition
Floor or soiled eggs
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
05
Why break out and analyse
hatch debris?
•It is normal for there to be some embryo mortality during incubation.
•Embryo losses tend to follow a consistent pattern (although it will vary
slightly with flock age).
•Some embryo malpositions and abnormalities have known causes and can
be the result of specific problems.
•Analysing embryo mortality patterns and abnormalities can help to identify
which aspects of the incubation process need closer investigation in order
to improve hatchability and chick quality.
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
Day of Incubation
01
Why break out and analyse hatch debris?
Probability of Embryo Death
Normal Pattern of Embryo Loss During incubation showing peaks in mortality
during early and late incubation
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
05
The Procedure for Breaking
Out Hatch Debris
Step 1:
Sample selection and preparation. • Hatch debris breakouts should be integrated with other QA procedures such as
measuring egg water loss and chick yield.
• Monitor three setter trays per flock per week, and label sample trays clearly at
the time of set.
• The eggs used for the sample trays should be clean nest eggs of known flock
source, flock age and egg age.
The Procedure for Breaking Out and Analysing Hatch Debris
Note: Clear or non-viable eggs should not be removed from trays. However, it will
not be possible to distinguish infertile from early embryo mortality on clear eggs
left in the setter for 18 days. A separate sample of eggs should be used for fertility
identification (see How To... Identify Infertile Eggs and Early Deads).
Step 2:
‘Take off and count dead in shell. • On the day of hatch, count chicks and culls out of the
sample setter trays. Record their numbers per tray.
• Collect, count and separate out the unhatched (dead in
shell) eggs. Record their numbers per tray.
Step 2
Note: The totals for chicks plus culls and dead-in-shell should equal the number of
eggs set, less any removed at candling.
Step 3:
Breaking out dead in shells. • Identify and count any eggs where the beak has pierced the shell (pips). Record
numbers, and note if any chicks are still alive.
• Open all the eggs, at the air cell. Take care not to remove
Step 3
any egg contents when lifting the air cell membrane.
• Identify the stage of development of the embryo and sort
eggs into groups of infertile, early dead (0-7 days) mid
dead (8-15 days) and late dead (15-21 days) using the
pictures on page 3.
• Check very late (20-21 days) dead embryos for
malpositions.
• Check for malformations in the mid and late dead
embryos.
• Also record any with cracked or poor quality shells and
any eggs that are contaminated.
02
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
05
At the start of the
recording period, the
embryo will look like this:
By the end, the embryo
will have grown to look
like this:
After death, the
appearance changes and
the dead in shell embryos
may look like this:
Infertile
No obvious signs of
development.
The end of this stage
is marked by the
appearance of the egg
tooth on the beak.
Mid Dead
8-14 days
Embryos have an egg
tooth but no obvious
feather development.
Late Dead
15-19 days
Well feathered embryo,
fills the shell. Yolk may be
external or retracted.
External pip
20 days
The beak has broken
through the egg shell.
Contaminated
Deep discolouration of
the egg contents, which
smell off.
03
The Procedure for Breaking Out and Analysing Hatch Debris
Early Dead
1-7 days
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
Common Malpositions
The Procedure for Breaking Out and Analysing Hatch Debris
05
Normal Hatching
Position
Malpo 2:
Head in small end of egg
Malpo 3:
Head turned to left
Malpo 5:
Feet over head
Malpo 6:
Beak above right wing
Note: Malpositions normally occur in 1.5% of all eggs set. The incidence of Malposition
3 (Head turned to left) and Malposition 5 (Feet over head) is normally 0.25% of eggs set
(each). The incidence of Malposition 6 (Beak above right wing) is normally about 0.4%
of eggs set. Head in small end of shell (Malposition 2) is the most variable malposition
as it caused by setting eggs upside down. The occurrence of this malposition should
not exceed 0.1% of eggs set.
Common Malformations
Exposed brain
Ectopic viscera
Duplication of body parts
Note: Occasional abnormalities are not a cause for concern. Further investigation Is
appropriate only if a single malformation occurs at levels over 0.5% of the eggs set.
04
How to...
The Procedure for
Analysing Hatch Debris
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
05
•Record the number of eggs falling into each category for each tray.
•Add theses numbers together to determine the total number of eggs falling
within each category.
•Calculate the total as a percentage of the number of eggs set.
Example recording sheet for hatch debris break out information
B20
Farm
31 weeks
Age
Hatch Tray Size
1
Date Hatched
14th March
Date Broken Out
24th March
150
Setter No.
12
Hatcher No.
3
Tray No.
3rd March
Date Set
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
% of Eggs Set
No. of Eggs Removed
19 18 15
52
11.6
Infertile
6
4
4
14
3.1
“Early Dead” (0-7 Days)
5
5
5
15
3.3
“Mid Dead” (8-14 Days)
2
1
1
4
0.9
“Late Dead” (15-21 Days)
5
5
4
14
3.1
External Pip
1
3
1
5
1.1
Dead and Cull Chicks
1
0
2
3
0.7
Contaminated
1
3
1
5
1.1
Poor Sheel Quality
0
0
1
1
0.2
Cracked Shell
0
0
1
1
0.2
Malpositions- Head in Small End of Egg
1
-
-
1
0.2
- Head to Left
-
-
-
-
- Feet Over Head
-
2
1
3
0.7
- Beak Above Right Wing
-
-
-
-
-
Malformations- Exposed Brain/Eye Defect
-
-
-
-
-
- Extra Limbs
-
-
-
-
-
- Ectopic Viscera
-
-
-
-
-
Notes:
05
The Procedure for Breaking Out and Analysing Hatch Debris
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
Interpreting Results
05
•Compare the results with the targets for the age of the flock concerned
Stage of Development of Embryo
Flock Age
Infertile Early Dead
Mid Dead
Late Dead
External Pip
Cracked
Contaminated
Young
25-30 Weeks
6
5.5
1
3.5
1
0.5
0.5
Peak
31-45 Weeks
2.5
3.5
0.5
2.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
Post Peak
46-50 Weeks
5
4
1
2.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
Ageing
51-60 Weeks
8
4.5
1
3
0.5
1
1
•Plot results against target. If any figure is above target an investigation into the
reason for this should be set up
Simple Hatch Debris Analysis
4.0
% of Eggs Set
3.5
Top Quartile %
Percentage (%)
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Cracked Shell
Poor Shell
Quality
Contaminated
External Pips
Late Dead
(15-21 Days)
Mid Dead
(8-14 Days)
Early Dead
(0-7 Days)
Infertile
Interpreting Results
0.0
Notes: Any assessment of infertility made at the end of incubation during a breakout is
likely to be inaccurate as it is not possible to distinguish true infertile from early deads.
If the early dead plus fertility numbers exceeds the target then follow the procedures in
the How To... Identify Infertile Eggs and Early Deads before taking further action.
06
How to...
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
Possible Causes of
Embryo Mortality
05
Hatchery
Farm
Formalin exposure 12-96 hours.
Early Dead
(1-7 Days)
Slow to reach incubation temperatures
Inadequate egg collection
Condensation on egg surface
Nutrition
Turning angle/frequency not correct
Egg contamination
Long egg storage
Floor/soiled eggs
Fluctuating egg storage temperature
Mid Dead
(8-14 Days)
Embryo temperature too high
Nutritional deficiencies
Contamination
Setter/hatcher temperatures/humidities incorrect – check egg shell temps and water loss.
Late Dead
(15-19 Days)
Transfer damage
Eggs set upside down
Nutritional deficiencies
Contamination
Insuffcient water Loss
Inadequate turning/eggs set upside down
At piping
Transfer damage
Excessive fumigation in hatcher
Nutritional deficiencies
Long egg storage
Egg shell disinfection inappropriate
Contamination
Condensation on egg surface during storage or
transport
High levels of floor eggs
Thin or cracked shells
Poor nest hygiene
High level of contamination in the hatchery (if
late deads only)
Beak above right wing - heat stress
Beak above right wing - Nutritional deficiencies
(linoleic acid)
Other malpositions - causes unknown
Exposed brain - high early incubation temperatures
Malformations
Ectopic visera - high incubation temperatures
mid-term
Extra limbs - rough handling or jarring of the
eggs during collection/transport
07
INTERPRETING RESULTS
Malpositions
Head in small end – egg incubated upside
down, high incubation temperature or shallow
turning angle
How to...
More Information
Break Out and Analyse
Hatch Debris
05
More Information
•Ross Tech – Investigating Hatchery Practice
•H.R. Wilson’s “Hatchability Problem Analysis” published by the University of
Florida and available as a free download on the internet.
•Others in the Hatchery How To series:
01
Measure Egg Water Loss
02
Measure Chick Yield
03
Measure Eggshell Temperature
04Identify Infertile Eggs & Early Deads
08
How to...
Hatchery
Egg Weights and Chick Weights
Company
Date Set
Farm
Date Hatched
Age
Setter No.
Tray No.
Date Broken Out
1
2
Hatcher No.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
No. of Eggs
Weight of Empty Tray
Weight of Full Tray
Transfer Weight
No. of Chicks Hatched
Total Chick Weight
Culls and Deads
Unhatched Eggs
Egg Weight Loss (%)
Mean Egg Weight (g)
Mean Chick Weight (g)
Chick Yield (%)
As illustrated in How To... Measure Egg Water Loss and Measure Chick Yield
How to...
Hatchery
Breakout of Unincubated Eggs
Company
Date
Farm
No. of Eggs Sampled
Fertile
Infertile
- Mottled Yolk
- Watery Albumen
- Sticky Yolk
As illustrated in How To... Identify Infertile Eggs and Early Deads
How to...
Hatchery
10-14 Day Candling Analysis
Company
Date Set
Farm
Date Candled
Age
No. of Eggs/Tray
Tray No.
Date Broken Out
1
2
3
Setter No.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
% of Eggs Set
No. of Eggs Removed
Infertile
24h Early Dead
48h Early Dead
“Blood Ring” (2.5-4 days)
“Black Eye” (5-12 days)
Notes:
As illustrated in How To... Identify Infertile Eggs and Early Deads
How to...
Hatchery
Hatch Debris Analysis - Simplified Version
Company
Date Set
Farm
Date Broken Out
Age
No. of Eggs/Tray
Tray No.
Date Setter No.
1
2
Hatcher No.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
% of Eggs Set
No. of Eggs Removed
Infertile
“Early Dead” (0-7 Days)
“Mid Dead” (8-14 Days)
“Late Dead” (15-21 Days)
External Pip
Dead and Cull Chicks
Contaminated
Poor Shell Quality
Cracked Shell
Malpositions- Head in Small End of Egg
- Head to Left
- Feet Over Head
- Beak Above Right Wing
Malformations- Exposed Brain/Eye Defect
- Extra Limbs
- Ectopic Viscera
Notes:
As illustrated in How To... Break Out and Analyze Hatch Debris
Notes on using the Aviagen Hatchery Spreadsheet v1.0
1. Installing on computer
a. Create a folder called C:\Hatchery on computer for keeping the
spreadsheet and associated files together
b. Copy the all files from the installation disc into the folder. C:\Hatchery
c. To read the “How To..” documents it will be necessary to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This can be downloaded for
free at http://get.adobe.com/reader .
2. Getting started.
a. Double left click on Aviagen Hatchery Monitoring.xls in Windows Explorer
to start the Excel spreadsheet. A security warning box will open asking
whether you wish to enable macros. Click on the Enable Macros button.
The spreadsheet will then open on the Menu Page.
b. If using the spreadsheet for the first time you will need to enter your
company name in the white box in the bottom left corner.
c. A list of breed names is shown on the left of the sheet. You can delete
names from this list if they are not used within your operation or add
other names at the bottom of the list.
d. On the right side of the menu are links to the “How to..” documents that
describe how carry out the hatchery quality control procedures for
reference. To open the document single left click on the button. If the
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document does not open make sure that the document pdf files have
been saved in the same folder as the spreadsheet and the latest version
of Adobe Acrobat Reader has been properly installed on the computer
e. In the centre of the menu page are buttons for entering data from
breakout of candling analysis, hatch debris analysis and egg moisture and
chick yields. For each data type there is a blue button where data are
entered, a yellow button to view the database for each data type and a
graph button that gives simple trend graphs over time.
3. Navigating within the workbook
a. To enter any of the data entry areas, single left click on the blue button
on the menu page.
b. To enter the database area, single left click on the yellow database
button on the menu page.
c. To enter the trend graph area, single left click on the graph button.
d. From any of the other pages it is possible to return to the menu page by
single left clicking on the Menu button.
e. On the data entry and graph pages the button looks like:
Menu
f. On the data entry pages, clicking on the return to menu button will not
save the data entered into the data entry sheet across to the database.
If you navigate away from the data entry page without saving the data, a
box will appear asking whether you intend to leave the data entry area
without saving the data. If you wish to save the data entered into the
database before exiting, then you must single left click on the Copy &
Clear Data button:
Copy &
Clear Data
4. Action Buttons
a. On the data entry pages three buttons will carry out specific actions.
1. The print button will send a copy of the page to your default printer.
Print
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2. The copy & clear data button will copy data from the data entry form
into the database and then clear the data entry form ready for the
data from the next flock to be entered.
Copy &
Clear Data
3. The envelope icon will allow you to email the data from the database
to Aviagen incubation specialists so that they can comment on the
results. All results sent to Aviagen will be treated in strictest
confidence.
5. Entering Candling Data
a. On the Menu Page single left click on the Candling Analysis button. The
data entry page will open up:
b. At the top of the page is where all the flock details are entered. This
information needs to be completed in order to copy data into the
database.
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c. Breed should be entered using the drop down box.
d. Entering the flock age will produce a “Top Quartile” prediction for the
flock. This will be shown on the right side of the data entry table.
e. In the data entry table, in the first row enter the number of eggs set per
tray. In the second row enter the number of eggs removed from the tray
by candling. This number will show up as red until it equals the sum of
the number of eggs entered in the different age categories.
The number of egg
removed figure will
remain red until it
equals the sum of
the number of eggs
within each age
category.
When the correct
numbers of eggs
have been entered
then the figure will
turn blue.
f. As data are entered the percentage incidence of each age category are
shown on the right side of the table, next to the top quartile prediction.
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g. The notes area can be used to type in information about the hatch or
flock – this will be stored with the results in the database.
h. Scrolling down the page will show a graph of the results (blue bars)
plotted against the top quartile flock prediction (red line). When the
blue bar is higher than the red line it shows that the level of infertility
or embryo mortality is higher than predicted and should be investigated.
i. When data entry for the flock is complete it should be transferred into
the database using the Copy and Clear Data button. This will also clear
all the data from data entry spreadsheet ready for the next flock or
hatch.
6. Entering Hatch Debris Analysis
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a. On the Menu page left click on the “Simple Hatch Debris Analysis”
button. The data entry page will open up:
b. Data entry into this form is the same as described in the Entering
Candling Data section above.
c. In the data entry table, in the first row enter the number of eggs set per
tray. In the second row enter the number of unhatched eggs left on the
hatcher tray. This number will show up as red until it equals the sum of
the number of eggs entered in the different age categories.
The number of egg
removed figure will
remain red until it
equals the sum of
the number of eggs
within each age
category.
When the correct
numbers of eggs
have been entered
then the figure will
turn blue.
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d. When data entry for the flock is complete it should be transferred into
the database using the Copy and Clear Data button. This will also clear
all the data from data entry spreadsheet ready for the next flock or
hatch.
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7. Entry of Egg and Chick Weight
a. On the Menu page left click on the “Egg & Chick Weight” button. The
data entry page should then appear:
b. The flock information at the top of the page should be entered in the
same way as described in the Candling Analysis data entry page.
c. The set and transfer dates need to be entered to allow the correct
calculation of % egg weight (moisture) loss. If this information is not
present the calculated egg weight loss will be displayed as ######.
d. Weights should be entered in grams.
e. As the weights are entered into the boxes the average egg weight, % egg
weight loss, average chick weight and % chick yield are calculated
automatically. The calculated % egg weight loss is automatically
adjusted to 18 days using the set and transfer date information.
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f. Scrolling down the spreadsheet, will show the % egg weight loss and %
chick yield graphed. The data are plotted against the normal ranges so
that it can be quickly seen whether results are normal or if corrective
action needs to be taken.
g. When data entry for the flock is complete it should be transferred into
the database using the Copy and Clear Data button. This will also clear
all the data from data entry spreadsheet ready for the next flock or
hatch.
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8. Database.
a. All data copied from the data entry sheets into the database can be
accessed using the yellow “Database” button on the Menu page.
b. It is strongly recommended that if the user wishes to use the data for
analysis, it is copied out of the Hatchery Analysis Workbook into a new
Workbook. Do not do the analysis within the Hatchery Analysis
Workbook.
c. Data entered into the database can be edited or deleted if required.
However, it is strongly recommended that this is only done in
exceptional circumstances and a copy of the Workbook is made before
attempting this.
9. Graphs
a. Simple graphs show changes over time can be seen using the graph icon
on Menu page. Left click on the graph icon and a graph will appear:
b. If new data have been entered into the database, left click on the
“Refresh all Pivots” button to ensure the latest data are included in the
graphs.
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c. Clicking on the down arrow at the right side of the yellow “Select a
Graph” bar will give a list of available graphs that can be displayed.
d. The time period over which the graph is shown can be controlled using
the “Date Hatched” button
Click on Date Hatched
down arrow
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Click on date boxes to
select all the dates that
need to be graphed
Then click OK
e. Once data has been collected over a longer period of time it will also be
possible to plot data by month, quarter or year. Right click on the Date
Hatched button at the bottom of the graph and a menu will appear.
Left click on Group and Show Detail and then left Click on Group. A
Grouping box will then appear that will allow the user to select either a
time period range or plot by moth, quarter or year.
f. To clear current date plotting restrictions and to properly plot new data,
right click on date buttons at bottom of graph, left click on Group and
Show Detail and then left Click on Ungroup.
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1. Right click on Date box
2. Left click on Group and
Show Detail
3. Click on Group
4. In Grouping box, it is
possible to chose
¾ Date range
¾ Daily plot
¾ Monthly plot
¾ Quarter plot
¾ Annual plot
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10.
Saving Data and Exiting the Workbook.
a. To make sure all data are saved when exiting the workbook, use the
Save and Close button on the Menu page.
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