{"id":200167,"date":"2024-01-02T12:01:36","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T11:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/?p=200167"},"modified":"2024-01-02T12:56:12","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T11:56:12","slug":"optimizing-doc-quality-part-2-the-hatchery-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/us\/optimizing-doc-quality-part-2-the-hatchery-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimizing DOC quality, part 2: The hatchery perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conference report<\/em><\/p>\n

At EW Nutrition’s Poultry Academy in the fall of last year, Judy Robberts<\/strong>, Technical Service Manager, Aviagen discussed the impact of the hatchery on chick quality. The transportation and storage of hatching eggs, preventative maintenance, and day-old chick transport all play an essential role. If mismanaged, these areas can negate the benefits of money spent and improvements made at the breeder farm or even in the hatchery itself.<\/p>\n

Egg transport from breeder farm to hatchery<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The transportation of hatching eggs from the breeder farm to the hatchery is critical: clean and disinfect the truck prior to use, to prevent pathogen spread, and only use a truck that is dedicated to transport hatching eggs. Always transport eggs small end down to avoid loose air cells.<\/p>\n

The temperature of the farm egg storage room should higher than the egg transport truck. This decrease in temperature is to prevent condensation (also referred to as sweating) on the eggs. Condensation on the eggshell impairs the natural mechanisms of defense and provide an ideal environment for bacteria grow, penetrate the shell, and contaminate the egg. Condensation on eggs is more common in hot and humid climates common throughout Asia. Even when on-farm egg storage and truck temperatures are equal, sweating can still occur during loading and unloading, especially on warm and humid days. In such a case, a higher on-farm storage temperature of 23\u00b0C instead of the generally recommended 18-20\u00b0C can be considered.<\/p>\n

Avoid sudden temperature changes. Use temperature loggers during transport to record any temperature fluctuations. Take internal egg temperatures at different locations within each batch received at the hatchery, to check temperature conditions during transport. The relative humidity of the truck should be set at 65-70%.<\/p>\n

Egg storage at the hatchery <\/strong><\/h1>\n

Don\u2019t forget that storage starts from the time of laying, not the time of receival at the hatchery. Egg storage rooms are important, yet they are frequently overlooked. Areas to consider include:<\/p>\n