Phenotypic correlations between the egg weight, shape of egg, shell thickness, weight loss and hatchling weight of turkeys

Authors

  • P. HRISTAKIEVA
  • M. OBLAKOVA
  • N. MINCHEVA
  • M. LALEV
  • K. KALIASHEVA

Keywords:

turkey eggs, correlation, shape index, shell weight, shell thickness, loss of weight, hatchling turkeys weight

Abstract

Eggs of turkey layers from the North Caucasian bronze (NCB) breed were investigated. Incubation eggs were monitored on days 9 and 15 to establish embryonic mortality rates. By the 25th day of incubation, before moving the eggs in the incubator, they were weighed to determine the weight loss by this moment. Thirty eggs, from which normal turkey poults have hatched, were randomly selected. The weight and thickness of eggshells were determined, the hatchlings were weighed and their relative weight from the egg was calculated. A moderate positive correlation was established between the weight of incubated hatched eggs of turkeys at 34 and 46 weeks of age and eggshells weight (r = 0.51 and r = 0.50, respectively). Eggshell thickness was proportional to the whole egg weight – heavier eggs had thicker shells (r = 0.34; р < 0.05). A substantial positive effect of egg weight on the hatchling weight was established (r = 0.77; r = 0.65 at р < 0.001). The observed correlations between the shape of eggs and turkey egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness of hatched eggs, weight loss during incubation, were low and negative. A positive correlation (r = 0.52) was demonstrated between the weight and thickness of eggshells in eggs produced by 34-week-old and from 46-week-old turkeys (r = 0.68; р < 0.001). A negative correlation (to r = -0.80) existed between weight loss during incubation and the absolute and relative weight of the hatchling.

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Published

2018-06-30

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Articles

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