Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different hen ages on egg quality characteristics, hatching performance and chick quality in chukar partridges. Materials and Methods: A total of 510 eggs obtained from chukar partridge flocks were used to determine the effects of different hen age on hatching performance, egg quality traits and chick quality. Daily collected 20 eggs from each age group (1, 2 and 3 years of age) were assessed for internal quality characteristics. A total of 150 eggs per each age group were set into incubator and hatcher set. After hatching, unhatched eggs were broken to determine hatching performance and embryonic mortality. Hatched day-old chicks were scored to determine chick quality characteristics. Results: Internal egg quality traits were not statistically affected by different breeding ages. Different breeding ages did not affect hatchability, early and middle embryonic mortality while late embryonic mortality and fertility of eggs were statistically affected. The evaluated chick quality traits were affected by the different hen age. Conclusion: Despite decreasing fertility rate with age, the results of this study suggest incubating eggs of chukar hens with 3 years age for optimum chick quality and being raised chukar hens up to 3 years of age.

Bu çalışma, 2013-2022 yılları arasında Türkiye'ye ithal edilen Siyah Alaca boğa spermalarındaki kalıtsal kusurların belirlenmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında, çeşitli boğa katalogları, suni tohumlama şirketleri ve uluslararası genetik veri tabanları kullanılarak toplam 2.420 boğa analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan incelemeler sonucunda, ithal edilen donmuş spermaların %14.26'sının en az bir genetik kusur taşıdığı tespit edilmiştir. En sık rastlanan kalıtsal kusurlar arasında Holştayn haplotip 5 (HH5), Holştayn kolesterol eksikliği (HCD) ve kas zayıflığı (MW) geni yer almaktadır. Yıllara göre yapılan değerlendirmelerde, 2019 yılı sonrası ithal edilen spermaların kusurlu gen taşıyıcı oranlarında belirgin bir artış gözlemlenmiş ve 2013 yılında %29.57 olan taşıyıcı oranının 2022 yılında %51.27'ye ulaştığı belirlenmiştir. Ülkelere göre yapılan analizlerde, Almanya’dan ithal edilen spermaların en düşük genetik kusur oranına sahip olduğu, buna karşın ABD, Kanada ve Fransa’dan ithal edilen spermaların daha yüksek oranlarda genetik kusur içerdiği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, ithal edilen boğa spermalarında genetik kusurların yaygın olduğunu ve bunun hem ekonomik kayıplara hem de sığır popülasyonunun genetik sürdürülebilirliğine olumsuz etkiler yaratabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu nedenle, Türkiye'nin ithalat politikalarını gözden geçirmesi, genetik kalite standartlarını sıkılaştırması ve kalıtsal kusur taşıyan spermaların ithalatına yönelik daha katı denetimler uygulaması önerilmektedir.

This study investigated the effects of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) on egg quality, hatching performance, and chick quality in Alectoris chukar eggs subjected to extended storage durations. A total of 800 eggs collected from a 60-week-old chukar partridge breeder flock were allocated to eight experimental subgroups in a 4 × 2 factorial design, with storage period (35, 42, 49, and 56 days) and treatment (control or SPIDES) as the main factors (100 eggs/subgroup). All eggs were stored at 9–12 °C and 75% relative humidity in a pointed-end-up position with 24 rotations per day for their assigned storage duration (35, 42, 49, or 56 days). In the SPIDES groups, eggs were incubated for 2 h at 37.7 °C and 59% relative humidity in 7-day intervals, commencing on day 28 of storage. As storage duration increased, Haugh unit, albumen index, and yolk index decreased significantly (p < 0.001), while yolk ratio (p < 0.05) and yolk-to-albumen ratio (p < 0.01) increased. The overall hatchability decreased at 49 and 56 days of storage, while the hatchability of fertile eggs was lowest at 56 days (p < 0.05). Early embryonic mortality increased significantly at 56 days of storage (p < 0.05). SPIDES had a limited effect on most egg quality traits, including Haugh unit, albumen index, and egg component weights, but significantly improved the hatchability and hatchability rate of fertile eggs, reduced early embryonic mortality, and enhanced the overall chick quality score (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that chukar partridge eggs exhibit considerable resistance to long-term storage; however, SPIDES represents a beneficial management strategy for maintaining embryonic viability when storage duration exceeds practical limits.

The effect of different storage temperatures on egg traits during storage and incubation, hatching characteristics and embryonic mortality in chukar partridge eggs stored under normal-term storage was investigated in this study. The study was designed as a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with two storage durations (7 and 14 days) and four storage temperatures (3, 9, 15 and 21 °C). After storage, a total of 480 eggs (60 eggs per subgroup) were sent directly to the histology lab to determine the stage of embryonic development. The remaining eggs (50 eggs per each subgroup) were moved to an incubator for 21 d and then transferred to a hatcher basket. On day 26, unhatched eggs were opened to determine the hatching performance and embryonic mortality rate. Lower chick weights and longer incubation periods were observed when the eggs were stored at 15 °C. Almost all the egg and hatching traits were found to be similar among treatment groups. Considering that the probability of a higher embryonic developmental stage was increased in the eggs stored at 21 °C, the occurrence of embryonic development at gastrula stage was found to be similar across both storage duration and temperature groups. Even though storage temperature is recommended to be adjusted between 12–18 °C in poultry industry, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to claim that partridge eggs can be stored from 3 to 21 °C without any serious negative effect in the 14 days of storage period. Most insignificant findings in both hatchability and embryonic occurrence in eggs stored at 21 °C revealed that partridge breeders and game farmers would store their eggs during the short-term storage period by placing them in a room with minor temperature and humidity modifications.

This study aimed to investigate the feed intake, feed conversion ratio, growth performance, first laying age, and egg quality of Japanese quail lines. The study material consisted of Yamtar-I and Yamtar-II Japanese quail lines bred on a private farm in Karaman province, along with a control group derived from these lines. From 0-5 weeks of age, Yamtar-II showed higher live weight than the control group at 5 weeks, though averages were similar during the first four weeks of age (p<0.01). Growth and fattening analysis revealed significant differences in live weight gain and daily live weight gain between 3-4 and 4-5 weeks of age (p<0.05), while feed intake and feed conversion ratios were similar. Egg production was monitored from first laying to 93 days of age, with quails housed in 1:2 (male/female) single mating cages. At 10 weeks of age, egg quality characteristics were analyzed using 20 quail eggs per group. The control group showed delayed egg laying (p<0.01), and lower egg production (p<0.05) compared to the other groups. Significant differences in egg and yolk weights (p<0.01) were found among the groups. On the other hand, shape index, shell thickness, shell ratio, yolk ratio, Haugh unit, albumen weight, and albumen ratio were similar. In conclusion, Yamtar-I and Yamtar-II lines, which were obtained by selection by the breeder, showed no significant differences in fattening. Moreover, Yamtar-I have demonstrated better egg production and quality characteristics compared to the control group. These findings suggest that applying a conscious selection strategy could enhance commercial quail breeding potential.

This study aimed to examine the applicability of formulas determined in eggs of different poultry species to guinea fowl, particularly in terms of egg shell and shape characteristics. In this study, 69 eggs from guinea fowl (Numida melagris) raised as a hobby in the districts of Antakya and Ereğli were used. Individual egg weights were weighed using an electronic scale. The length and width of the egg were determined using two different methods: the first was measurement with calipers, and the second was mathematical calculation. The mathematical equations used for egg length and width values are: Eq.-1 (14.7 × (Egg weight)0.341), Eq.-2 (13.04938 × (Egg weight)0.373272), Eq.-3 (11.3 × (Egg weight)0.327) and Eq.-4 (8.01571 × (Egg weight)0.448338). In addition, some external quality characteristics have been calculated using mathematical formulas based solely on egg weight. Statistically significant differences were found between the determination methods for all external quality characteristics of guinea fowl eggs (P<0.01). The data obtained show the average egg weight (38.07 g) and, using this weight, the egg length (48.90 mm, 50.82 mm, 50.73 mm), egg width (36.66 mm, 37. 12 mm 40.95 mm), shape index (%75.05, %73.06, %80.71), elongation (1.335, 1.369, 1.239), shell weight (3.01 g), shell thickness (0.27 mm), egg surface area (53.79 cm², 51.84 cm²), and pore count (6512.54, 4954.09, 4786.13) were calculated. The egg width-1 value of obtained through mathematical calculation deviated by 1.296% from the caliper measurement result. The error rate of using Eq.-2 in the calculation of guinea fowl egg length and Eq.-3 in calculating egg width was found to be lower than that of other mathematical formulas. As a result, it is considered that data obtained based on egg weight can be used in scientific studies.