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Title: INCUBATION TEMPERATURE AND EGGSHELL CONDUCTANCE EFFECTS ON THE INTESTINAL MATURATION AND THYROID FUNCTION IN COMMERCIAL TURKEY POULTS HATCHING FROM THE FIRST CYCLE 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 a first cycle flock [abstract]. Poultry Science Supplement 1. p. 57.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Eggshell conductance (G) and egg white (EW) affect poult viability. Poor livability may be related intestinal maturation and thyroid function of the neonate. The objectives of this study were to test if incubator temperature and G determine poult maturity among egg from a young turkey flock. Maturation was assessed by measuring body weight (BW), feed per gain, jejunum maltase (M) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and thyroid function of commercial turkey poults. Eggs from a first cycle flock (new), mean EW 83.47 g, were weighted, numbered, set and incubated under standard operating procedures in a commercial turkey hatchery. Eggs were incubated under a high temperature profile (HP) and under 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 was placed in battery brooders and grown for 7d and BW and feed consumption were measured at days 1, 3, 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. LP poults showed greater total jejunal M, T4 and BW, but decreased gain than HP poults. High and average G poults showed higher M, BW and gain compared to low G poults. Average G males possessed the highest amount of T3, while the average G females had the lowest amount of T3. Females had a heavier jejunum relative to body weight than the males as well as a higher feed per gain value. Incubation profile interacted with G to affect poult M, ALP and thyroid activities among poults from a new flock. Thus, as flock age changes incubation profile and G and tools that may be managed to improve poult maturity.