Suitability of ostrich eggs to hatchability

الملخص EN

This study was undertaken to investigate some factors affecting ostrich eggs hatching.

The mean percentage of egg weight loss (EWL) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in the large size eggs than that in the small and medium sized ones.

The number of large pores / cm2 increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in the large sized eggs.

There was a significant positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between the number of large pores and the egg weight loss.

A significant positive correlation was found between the egg size and egg weight loss (P ≤ 0.01).

Shell thickness did not differ significantly in different egg sizes.

Hatchability Percentage in the large, medium and small sized eggs was 78.95, 65.00 and 35.00 % respectively.

The highest hatchability (P ≤ 0.05) was achieved when the shell thickness was less than 1.7 mm (75.00 ± 8.57) which coincided with the significant increase (P ≤ 0.01) in the percentage of egg weight loss (12.84 ± 0.66) in the same group.

The lowest hatchability and egg weight loss were recorded when shell thickness was more than 1.9 mm.

A highly significant negative correlation (P ≤ 0.01) existed between the shell thickness and hatchability.

There was a significant negative correlation between the shell thickness and egg weight loss.

The lowest hatchability 33.30 ± 8.21 (P ≤ 0.01) was found in eggs with large pore count ≤ 7 /cm2 this came parallel with a significant decrease in EWL (8.46 ± 0.65) in the same group.

The highest hatchability and egg weight loss were achieved when large pore count / cm2 was > 10.

There was a significant positive correlation between egg weight loss and the number of large pores.

There was a highly significant positive correlation between the number of large pores and hatchability.