Effects of breeder age and dietary fat source and level on broiler hatching egg characteristics

The effects of breeder age and added dietary fat source and level on broile r hatching egg characteristics were evaluated. Diets included no added fat (NAF) or 3.0% added poultry fat (PF) for peak energy intakes of 430 and 467 kcal/hen-day (PCD) or 1.5% PF or 3.0% corn oil (CO) at 449 PCD. As added d ietary fat was changed from CO to PF, the percentage of unsaturated dietary fatty acids, including linoleic acid, decreased. Feeding of experimental d iets was initiated when breeders were 22 wk old. Total fresh egg weight; eg gshell weight; percentages of yolk (PYK), albumen (PAB), and eggshell (PSHL ) weights; and yolk:albumen ratio were measured at various weeks between 26 and 47 wk of age. Egg weight increased progressively with hen age. Signifi cant increases in yolk:albumen ratio occurred between Weeks 26 and 31 and b etween Weeks 31 and 35. Low (430 PCD) dietary energy levels significantly r educed PYK at 35 wk and increased PAB across breeder age. Eggshell weight w as lower in birds fed moderate (449 PCD) compared to low energy levels at W eek 26, moderate compared to high (467 PCD) energy levels at Week 41, and P F compared to CO across fat level at Week 31. At Week; 31 and 41, PSHL was increased by the use of 3.0% PF compared to 1.5%, and PSHL was increased at Weeks 26 and 41 by using added PF compared to CO across fat level. Increas ed dietary energy decreased PAB and the use of added dietary CO rather than PF decreased PSHL in broiler breeders between 26 and 47 wk of age.