Albumen height and yolk and embryo compositions in broiler hatching eggs during incubation

The relationship of albumen height (AH) to the compositions of yolks and em bryos in hatching eggs from a young (30 wk of age) broiler breeder flock wa s evaluated during incubation. On Day 2 of incubation, egg weight, yolk wei ght, and yolk moisture, lipid, and fatty acid contents were determined in e ggs from broiler breeders previously identified as laying eggs of either lo w or high AH. In addition, egg weight, wet and dry embryo weight, and embry o moisture and protein contents were determined on Days 10, 12, and 16, and embryo lipid content was determined on Days 12 and 16. Yolk and embryo wei ghts were expressed as percentages of sampled egg weight. Egg, yolk, and we t embryo weights, yolk moisture and lipid contents, and embryo moisture, pr otein, and lipid contents were not affected by AH; however, yolk myristic a cid concentration was higher, and yolk linoleic acid concentration was lowe r, in low AH eggs on Day 2 of incubation. Furthermore, on Day 16, dry embry o weight was significantly higher in low AH eggs. Young breeder hens laying eggs of different AH may also produce egg yolks with different fatty acid compositions. Differences in yolk fatty acid profiles between AH groups dur ing early incubation may impact subsequent embryo DM weight without associa ted effects on embryo moisture, protein, or lipid contents.