Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2004
Volume 7
Issue 2
Topic:
Animal Husbandry
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Szczerbińska D. , Tarasewicz Z. , Majewska D. , Dańczak A. , Ligocki M. , Romaniszyn K. 2004. EFFECT OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON THE HATCHABILITY OF EMU (DROMAIUS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE) EGGS, EJPAU 7(2), #08.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume7/issue2/animal/abs-08.html

EFFECT OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON THE HATCHABILITY OF EMU (DROMAIUS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE) EGGS

Danuta Szczerbińska, Zofia Tarasewicz, Danuta Majewska, Alicja Dańczak, Marek Ligocki, Krystyna Romaniszyn

 

ABSTRACT



Little information on emu incubation techniques has been published so far both in the Polish and foreign literature; hence this study, which is aimed to investigate effects of various levels of incubation relative humidity on the hatchability of emu eggs. Three levels of relative humidity (RH), 20, 25, and 30%, were applied to groups I, II, and III, respectively. The temperature 36.4°C was maintained constant in all the groups during the incubation. The poorest results were recorded in the group III with 30% relative humidity. Keeping lower humidity in the groups I and II resulted in improved hatchability, especially due to reduced percentage of crippled and weak chicks. It was found that humidity significantly influenced egg weight loss during incubation; lower relative humidity resulted in increased egg weight loss. Humidity also significantly influenced the body weight of the chicks. In the group with the lowest humidity, the ratio of the chick body weight to the initial egg weight w

Key words: egg, emu, hatchability, humidity, incubation..