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Title: INCUBATION TEMPERATURE AND EGGSHELL CONDUCTANCE EFFECTS ON THE INTESTINAL MATURATION AND THYROID FUNCTION IN COMMERCIAL TURKEY POULTS HATCHING FROM AN INDUCED MOLTED FLOCK

Author
item FUNDERBURK, S. - NC STATE
item CHRISTENSEN, V. - NC STATE
item CAMPBELL, G. - NC STATE
item WINELAND, M. - NC STATE
item GRIMES, J. - NC STATE
item MANN, K. - NC STATE
item NEELY, E. - NC STATE
item ORT, D. - NC STATE
item RIVES, D. - NC STATE
item McMurtry, John

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2006
Publication Date: 7/16/2006
Citation: Funderburk, S.L., Christensen, V.L., Campbell, G.G., Wineland, M.J., Grimes, J.L., Mann, K.M., Neely, E.R., Ort, D.T., Rives, D.V., McMurtry, J.P. 2006. Incubation temperature and eggshell conductance effects on the intestinal maturation and thyroid function in commercial turkey poults hatching from an induced molten flock [abstract]. Poultry Science Supplement 1. p. 57.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Eggshell conductance (G) and egg white (EW) affect livability. Poor viability may be related to intestinal maturation and thyroid function of the neonate. The objectives of this study were to test if incubator temperature and G determine poult maturity. Maturation was assessed by measuring body weight (BW), feed per gain, jejunal maltase (M), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and thyroid function of commercial turkey poults. Eggs from an induced molted flock (recycled), mean EW of 92.55 g, were weighted, numbered, set and incubated under standard operating procedures in a commercial turkey hatchery. Eggs were incubated using a high temperature profile (HP) and a low temperature profile (LP). All eggs were reweighed at 25 d and G was calculated. The eggs were then sorted into three groups: high, average and low G. At hatch poults were identified by G group and incubation profile. Poults from each experimental group were placed in battery brooders and grown for 7 d and BW and feed consumption were measured at days 1, 3, and 7. At days 1 and 3 posthatching blood and intestinal samples were taken from each G group and incubation profile. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Poults incubated under the HP showed increased jejuna weight, M, ALP and T3:T4 compared to LP poults. High and average G poults showed greater jejuna ALP, BW gain and decreased feed per gain compared to L G poults. Males incubated at HP with high G had higher M than average and low G males at HP. Females incubated at HP with an average and low G had greater M than high G females at HP. The greatest BW can be seen among HP males with average G and HP females with high G. Incubation profile interacted with G to affect M, ALP and thyroid activities among poults from a recycled flock. Thus, incubation profile and G may be managed to improve poult maturity.