Effect of breed, age and storage period on egg weight, egg weight loss and chick weight of commercial broiler breeders raised in Saudi Arabia

A total of 1350 hatching eggs were obtained from commercial broiler breeders Cobb, Ross 308 and Arbor Acres at 30–35, 40–45 and 50–55 weeks of age, 450 eggs for each breed and 150 eggs for each breed age. Eggs for each age were randomly divided into three groups, 50 eggs in each, stored either for 0, 7 or 14 days, individually weighed before and after storage and incubated following usual hatchery practices. Individual chick weight was recorded at hatch and chick weight percent of fresh egg weight was calculated and data were statistically analyzed. Ross, young breeders and eggs stored for 14 days had the lowest (P ⩽ 0.05) egg weight whereas Arbor Acres, young breeders and hatching eggs stored for 14 days showed the highest (P ⩽ 0.05) egg weight loss percent. Cobb, old breeders and fresh hatching eggs had the highest (P ⩽ 0.05) chick weight while Ross, old breeders and fresh hatching eggs showed the highest (P ⩽ 0.05) chick weight percent of fresh egg weight. From the results of the study we conclude that there are significant breeds’ differences with respect to all studied traits. Arbor Acres was inferior to Cobb and Ross in most studied traits. The results also showed that advancing breeders’ age had a positive effect whereas prolonged egg storage period had a negative effect upon all studied traits