A study was conducted to determine the effect of live weight of partridges on egg production and egg quality characteristics. A total of 144 Rock Partridges were divided into control, heavy, middle, and light BW groups at 32 wk of age. Live weights averaged 512.78 g for the control group, 576.18 g for the heavy group, 523.49 g for the middle group, and 473.83 g for the light group. Egg production rates of these groups were 41.44, 45.78, 32.38, and 24.67%, respectively, over an 8-wk period (P < 0.05). Live weight significantly affected egg weight, specific gravity, albumen index, shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit, and albumen weight (P < 0.05). Live weight did not affect the shape index, membrane weight, or yolk weight. As a result, the live weights of partridges used for breeding should not be under the average live weights of hens of the stock. On the other hand, other important factors that affect the egg quality of partridges should be investigated.

In this research, partridge eggs were stored during zero to 7, 8 to 14, 15 to 21, 22 to 28, 29 to 35 and 36 to 42 d, respectively. The effect of different egg storage periods on egg protein and moisture rates, mineral contents, and some egg quality and hatching characteristics were investigated. The extension of egg storage times didn’t affect the external quality features like shell weight, shell thickness, and albumen rate, but it affected the yolk weight, yolk index, albumen index, and Haugh unit (P < 0.05). Yolk weight was increased and yolk index, albumen index, and Haugh unit values were decreased with the extension of storage time. Different storage times of partridge eggs did not have important effects on the protein rates. Protein and humidity rate of the eggs were 14.21 and 67.64%, respectively. There were some elements such as S, P, Na, K, and Ca, but Al, Cd, Co, Mo, and Pb could not be found in the partridge eggs. There is no effect of the storage time on the mineral content of the egg. Storage time had negative effect on fertility and hatchability after 21 d of storage d, but no effect on hatchability of fertile eggs. As this study showed, partridge eggs are resistant to long storage times, as partridge egg proteins can resist degradation in the optimum storage times. To determine egg degradation, the study should be focused on partridge eggshell features, which are responsible for degradation. As a result of this research, partridge eggs can be stored for 21 d under optimum storage conditions without any negative hatchability results.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of live weight of pheasants on egg production and egg quality characteristics. A total of 48 ring-necked pheasants were divided into control, heavy, middle and light BW groups. Live weights of the control were 1,187 g, 1,352.92 g for heavy group, 1,247.92 g for middle group and 1,003.33 g for light group. Egg production of groups were found as 47.32, 42.82, 45.79 and 46.51% respectively, in 10 weeks of period. There were no statistical differences on egg production among the groups. The effect of live weight on egg weight, shape index, specific gravity, shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh Unit, yolk weight and albumen weight were found statistically significant (p0.05). On the other hand, other important factors to be effective on the egg quality of pheasants should be investigated. As a result of this study, live weight of pheasant hens is not an important factor to obtain high egg production in pheasants. But, body conformation of breeding materials should be in good conditions. (

Journal of Animal Science and Technology (JAST) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, review articles and notes in all fields of animal science. Topics covered by the journal include: genetics and breeding, physiology, nutrition of monogastric animals, nutrition of ruminants, animal products (milk, meat, eggs and their by-products) and their processing, grasslands and roughages, livestock environment, animal biotechnology, animal behavior and welfare.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of storage length (7, 14, 21 and 28 days), turning frequency (0, 1 and 24 times per day) and egg position (pointed end up, blunt end up and horizontal) on egg weight loss during storage and incubation; hatchling chick weight, incubation length and hatchability results in 56-week-old chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar). A total of 1800 daily collected eggs was assigned to 36 subgroups (4 × 3 × 3 experimental design) consisting of 50 eggs for each subgroup. Progressive decrease in egg weights and increase in egg weight loss during storage was observed with the lengthening of storage period (p < .001). Prominent effects were observed in total egg weight loss rate and incubation length when the eggs were stored more than 21 days (p < .001). The highest hatchling chick weights were observed in horizontal eggs stored for 7 days (p < .001). Most indices of hatching results showed detrimental effects when turning wasn’t applied and the eggs were stored with the position of blunt end up. General recommendations from the hatching results showed that chukar eggs can be stored up to 21 days of storage length irrespective of turning and egg position. If the chukar eggs are to be stored more than 21 days, turning should be implemented and the eggs should be placed with the position of pointed end up for optimum hatching results.

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.