Prospects for improved performance
Recent developments
The incubation conditions resulting in the highest hatching percentage of fertile eggs were largely determined and studied on an empirical basis more than half a century ago; these conditions have remained unchanged and unchallenged with few exceptions until now. But recently, new questions, doubts and facts are questioning the common practice of incubation.
Course objectives
In this course we will pay attention to the following subjects:
- the effects of the increase in size of incubators;
- the biological processes during embryogenesis. Some biological parameters during development may be used more frequently as an input in order to adapt and refine the controlling physical conditions;
- change of chickens: the tremendous progress in selection methods and the specialization in selection objectives have altered the optimal range of conditions of incubation;
- variable factors that influence the embryo development:
o duration of holding eggs before incubation starts
o embryogenesis: this starts at the moment of fertilization.
This often is not taken into account in establishing incubation conditions and management in the hatchery. Therefore, it is more than appropriate to focus on all these aspects in this international course Incubation biology and management. We will look into prospects for improved performance and its mutual interaction.
Target audience
Hatchery managers, poultry biologists, incubator manufacturers, engineers, poultry breeding companies, technical managers of poultry integration companies, veterinarians, researchers and teachers in poultry science are invited to this course.
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