Effects of pre-storage gum arabic application on hatch results and chick performance in hatching quail eggs

Abstract

In this study, the effects of pre-storage coating of different ratios of gum arabic on hatching traits and chick growth performance were investigated. Treatment groups; eggs treated with 5% gum arabic were stored for 7 days (7-5G), eggs treated with 5% gum arabic were stored for 14 days (14-5G), eggs treated with 10% gum arabic were stored for 7 days (7-10G) and 10% gum arabic applied eggs were stored for 14 days (14-10G). After the gum arabic application, the eggs were stored at 13 °C with 75% humidity for 7 or 14 days. In the study, a total of 800 hatching eggs were used, with 200 eggs in each of the four groups. Regardless of the gum arabic application, eggs stored for 7 days have less egg weight loss than eggs stored for 14 days (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences found for hatchability of set eggs (HSE). The highest hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) were found in 7-5G (88.22%) and lowest HFE was observed in 14-10G (73.96%) (P<0.05). In terms of embryonic mortality, the differences between the groups at days 1-9 and 17-18 were insignificant. Embryonic mortality was highest (16.49%) in the 14-10G group in the 10-16-day period (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups for chick body weight at hatch and yolk sac ratio (YSR). The lowest relative growth was found in the 14-10 G group (P<0.05). As a result, 5% gum arabic application and storage for 14 days can be recommended for long-term storage of eggs since it does not have a negative effect on hatchability, embryonic mortality, or chick growth performance.