Torres Figueroa, Alejandra S.

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    Uso de termografía infrarroja como método alternativo para evaluar fecundidad en huevos de pollos parrilleros para la incubación
    (2015) Torres Figueroa, Alejandra S.; Latorre Acevedo, José R.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Sánchez, Héctor; Arcelay, Enid; Mesonero, Alexander; Department of Animal Science; Orellana, Lynette
    Early detection of fertile eggs in a hatchery is one of the most important practices to implement in order to maximize production. Besides the economic impact of incubation non- fertile eggs, letting these eggs into the incubator is very prejudicial to fertile eggs that could successfully hatch. The most common practice for identifying non-fertile eggs in the hatchery is egg candling which experienced personnel must perform from the second week of incubation. Because of this, finding alternative methods for selecting non-fertile eggs in the hatchery at early stages of the incubation process would be of great advantage to broiler- breeders productions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of infrared thermography (IRT) as an alternative method for detection of fertile broiler breeders’ eggs in the hatchery. Our research used 15 eggs per tray and two trays per incubation day resulting in a total of 540 eggs. Minimum, maximum and average superficial eggshell temperature of three fertile and three non-fertile eggs were measured at random, in two-minute intervals, for 24 minutes. Our research showed that IRT could detect differences in temperature from 24 hours after incubation starts (P<0.0001). Also, maximum superficial temperature proved to be more reliable for identifying fertilization of the eggs (P<0.0001) because it reflects metabolic and vascular changes by the embryo. Furthermore, data collection for 24 minutes showed that by minute 22, the superficial temperature of the eggs began to stabilize with the environmental temperature (P<0.0001). Our findings showed that IRT could serve as an alternative method for detecting egg fertility at the hatcheries and be a tool of great advantage for the poultry industry.