Effect of Chemical Treatments on Hatchability of Broiler Eggs

This study was conducted to determine microflora species on the hatchable broiler egg shells and the disinfectant effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) : potassium permanganate (KMnO4) combination on the microbes and on the post-hatching performance of chicks so treated. One hundred and ninety-two medium-sized hatchable broiler eggs were divided into four groups with three replications of sixteen eggs each. Each group of the eggs was assigned to each of the following treatments, viz, untreated, NaOCl, H2O2 and formaldehyde. The eggs were incubated for 21 days while post-hatching performance was carried out for 28 days. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli (225-390cfu/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (78-139cfu/ml), Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis (210-368cfu/ml), Salmonella spp (258-313cfu/ml) and fungi (Rhizopus spp, Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp and Mucor spp) (63-101cfu/ml). Significant (P0.05) variation was observed in the population of microflora species on egg shell.

Autorentext

Egbeyale Lawrence T. holds Doctor of Philosophy in Non-Ruminant Production and Hatchery Management. The author is a Lecturer in the Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.