Heritability of embryonic mortalities in ostrich eggs and factors affecting hatching failure of fertile eggs during artificial incubation
Z. Brand A B G , S. W. P. Cloete A C , I. A. Malecki A D E and C. R. Brown F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
B Institute for Animal Production: Oudtshoorn, PO Box 351, Oudtshoorn, 6620, South Africa.
C Institute for Animal Production: Elsenburg, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa.
D School of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
E UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
F Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ, UK.
G Corresponding author. Email: zanellb@elsenburg.com
Animal Production Science 52(9) 806-812 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11225
Submitted: 12 October 2011 Accepted: 21 February 2012 Published: 3 July 2012
Abstract
The high rate of embryonic mortality during artificial incubation of ostrich eggs is a major concern in the ostrich industry. Data from 48 126 individual egg records were available to derive genetic parameters for embryonic mortalities, modelled as a trait of the individual egg. Embryonic mortality was classified according to stage of death, i.e. early embryonic mortality that occurred before 21 days of incubation (EEM), late embryonic mortality that occurred after 21 days of incubation (LEM) and overall embryonic mortalities (OEM). LEM increased significantly for eggs laid by females >10 years old. Transfer of eggs between incubators during incubation also impaired hatchability. An increase in OEM occurred for eggs freshly set (43%) as well as for eggs stored for more than 6 days (50%). Medium heritability (h2) estimates were derived for all the embryonic death traits and ranged between 0.16 ± 0.02 for LEM and 0.22 ± 0.03 for EEM. The dam permanent environmental effect was low ranging between 0.021 ± 0.005 for LEM and 0.046 ± 0.008 for EEM. Hatchability of fertile ostrich eggs may consequently be improved by removing older females from breeding flocks, setting of eggs between 2 and 6 days after collection, and by refraining to transfer of eggs between incubators during incubation. Moderate h2 estimates indicate that breeding may be used as a tool to enhance chick production in ostriches. This contention is supported by the fact that selected breeding for chick production and liveweight appeared to result in genetic changes in embryonic mortality rates.
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