Eggshell Water Vapor Conductance and Shell Structural Characteristics of Broiler Breeder in Different Flock Ages

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate eggshell traits; includingeggshell water vapor conductance, eggshell thickness, poredensity, egg weight loss as well as eggshell surface area andvolume in 28 and 40 week-old broiler breeders. Furthermore,the phenotypic correlations among the eggshell characteristicswere determined. The eggs were ranged from 54.41 g to 60.78 gand 54.71 g to 60.62 g in 28 and 40 wk-old age groups,respectively. All eggs were weighed and numbered beforesetting and were monitored individually until the end of theincubation. Mean eggshell water vapor conductance (G) valuewas 11.00±1.01 mg H2O day-1 torr-1 in 28 wk-old flock and11.99±1.28 mg H2O day-1 torr-1in 40 wk-old flock respectively(P