Summary
A Georgia supplier of fertile broiler breeder hatching eggs was getting reports of poor fertility from international customers. This was determined by breakout analysis of unhatched eggs; however, it is virtually impossible to discern the difference in hatch day breakout analyses between an infertile egg and a fertile egg that never reinitiated development after placement in the incubator.
Situation
The issue is that poor hatchability results were being blamed on the Georgia egg supplier and demands were dictated regarding reimbursement for loss in fertility and hatchability. The international customers were unhappy because of loss in income from what they thought was low quality hatching eggs. The Georgia supplier was unhappy because they were blamed for the failure and the discussions regarding reimbursement.
Response
I visited the Georgia hatching egg supplier and reviewed his facilities and breeder management. I collected 100 egg samples from each of the breeder flocks for fresh egg breakout analysis. The breeder facilities and management were first rate. The fertility I measured in Georgia ranged between 3 and 18 % higher per flock than what was being recorded by international customers. I then visited some of the hatcheries in the Caribbean and performed fresh egg, candling, and hatch day breakout analyses on all the flocks from the Georgia hatching egg supplier. What I found was that only fresh egg breakouts would accurately determine true fertility. The fertility results from these breakouts were almost identical to the fresh egg breakouts I performed on the same flocks in Georgia. The customers' hatch day breakout analyses were incorrect due to the deterioration of the germinal disc by hatch time. Most fertile eggs that never reinitiated development after long storage and shipping (11 to 15 days) were identical to infertile eggs in the breakout. All of these eggs were incorrectly identified as infertile. The problem lay in the age of the eggs and frequent temperature abuse during the long shipment.
Impact
The results were a significant reduction in economic liability for the Georgia hatching egg supplier. If the Georgia supplier had to pay for the 10 % loss in hatchability due to shipments of supposed infertile eggs, the cost would be about $11, 000 per week or $572,000 per year. This represents only one of the many Georgia hatching supplier's international customers. Recommendations were made to the hatchery involving egg handling, hatchery ventilation, and sanitation to improve hatchability and chick quality from the shipped eggs. Further, a research project will begin early next year to test a potential egg treatment that may extend the quality and shelf life of hatching eggs during long storage periods.
State Issue
Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability
Details
-
Year:
2007
-
Geographic Scope:
International
-
County:
Tift
-
Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
