Effects of flock age, storage temperature, and short period of incubation during egg storage, on the albumen quality, embryonic development and hatchability of long stored eggs

1. The effect of breeder flock age, storage temperature and a short period of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) on albumen quality, development of blastoderm, and hatchability of long-stored eggs was evaluated. 2. Hatching eggs were collected from 28-week-old (young) and 40-week-old (prime) Ross female line grandparent flocks and were stored for 14 d at 12, 15 or 18 degrees C. During storage, the eggs were either kept continuously in the storage room (control) or were subjected to SPIDES treatment. 3. Embryonic development was more advanced in eggs from the prime flock, exposed to SPIDES and warmer (18 degrees C) storage temperature (P <= 0.05). There was a difference in the albumen pH for flock ages (P < 0.05), but the SPIDES treatment did not affect albumen height and pH (P > 0.05). On d 14 of storage, albumen pH was positively (P < 0.05) correlated with storage temperature. Hatchability was higher in the prime flock (P < 0.05). 4. At both flock ages, hatchability increased (P < 0.05) by storing the eggs at 15 degrees C, compared to 18 degrees C, with 12 degrees C intermediate. The hatchability improvement was due to reduced early embryonic mortality. 5. The SPIDES treatment decreased late embryonic mortality and the percentage of second-grade chicks (P < 0.05), which increased the hatchability of fertile eggs (P < 0.05). SPIDES only reduced (P < 0.05) early embryonic mortality in eggs stored at 18 degrees C. 6. The highest hatchability was observed in the eggs stored at 15 degrees C and exposed to one SPIDES treatment during 14 d storage.