The effects of using UV light instead of formaldehyde in disinfection of hatching eggs on shell microbial load, embryo development, hatchability, and chick characteristics

ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of using UV light instead of formaldehyde in disinfection of hatching eggs on the microbial load, shell and yolk compositions, embryo development, hatching results and chick characteristics. 552 hatching eggs were divided into formaldehyde fumigation and disinfection with UV groups. After disinfection, bacteriological growth was not observed in groups. While the difference between the groups in terms of hatching results was insignificant, it was determined that the incubation period in the UV group was shorter than that of formaldehyde group. On the hatching day, relative chick weight and weight of bursa Fabricus were found to be higher in the UV group  . UV light can be used as an alternative to formaldehyde as disinfection of hatching eggs because it is easy to use and does not cause any negative effects on egg shell structure, embryo development, hatching results and chick characteristics.

KEYWORDS:

• Hatching egg
• UV
• formaldehyde
• embryo development
• chick characteristics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

This article is summarized from the first author’s master’s thesis. Material preparation, data collection and analyses were performed by FC and EO. BB determined the microscopic properties of the shell and SSI determined the microbial load on the shell. Writing of the manuscript was performed by EO. All authors read and approved the manuscript. There are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed.

Consent for publication

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by Ankara University Animal Care and Use Committee (2021-18-165). All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Ankara University Scientific Research Fund (BAP- 21H0239003).