The Effects of Season on Hatchability and Fertility of Egg-type Parent Stock (Bovans) in Sudan

Hatching records of egg-type parent stock (Bovans) owned by Coral Chick and Feed Production Farms in Khartoum were used to study the effect of seasons (summer and winter)during the period 1998-1999. These records include the number of total eggs, the number of fertile eggs, the number of eggs set and the number of hatched chicks. Results showed no significant effect of different seasons on the percentage of hatchability of total eggs, percentage of hatchability of fertile eggs, fertility percentage and percentage of dead embryo in shell. The values of the percentage of hatchability of total eggs, percentage of hatchability of fertile eggs, percentage of fertility and percentage of dead embryo in shell in summer and winter of 1998 were (78.55±7.24 and 77.7±11.35), (88.2±4.67 and 87.25±6.72), (88.65±3.56 and 88.65±6.99) and (11.8±4.67 and 12.8±6.7), respectively. Similarly, values in summer and winter of 1999 were (75.7±11.6 and 72.1±14.06), (86.95±7.13 and 86.1±9.28), (85.05±8.69 and 82.1±10.38) and (11.25±9.4 and 12.75±9.5), respectively. The data showed that the difference between seasons was not great so hatching operation can be carried out without ill effects throughout the year when egg-type parents are maintained on deep litter system in open houses and exposed to good management.