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Incubation temperature as a management tool: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

E. Decuypere  and
H. Michels
E. Decuypere
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Physiology and Immunology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
H. Michels
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Physiology and Immunology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
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Abstract

Temperature as one of the most important single physical factors determining or influencing embryo development and hatchability is reviewed and possible temperature manipulations are discussed as a management tool.

Pre-incubation egg holding temperature is reviewed as a factor acting on variability in developmental stage at oviposition. A mathematical approach for determining the temperature threshold or physiological zero for embryonic development is outlined. Temperature requirements during incubation are discussed, taking into account the ultimate aims and objectives of the incubation process, i.e. hatchability and chick quality for survival, growth and reproduction, challenging at the same time the idea that the best hatchability is synonymous with the highest chick quality.

Factors affecting limits of variation in incubation temperature, with particular reference to strain or line differences, are discussed.

Keywords

Incubation temperatureegg holding conditionsphysiological zerolong-term effects
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , March 1992 , pp. 28 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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