Effect of egg storage temperature and fumigation on hatchability of Cobb 500 and Hubbard broiler strains

Hatchability of Cobb 500 and Hubbard broiler strain eggs subjected to different levels of egg storage temperature and fumigation was studied at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The different egg storage temperature levels employed were 10, 16 and 23°C and fumigation levels employed were fumigated and unfumigated. Fertility and hatchability were tested during the experimental period. Fertility is not dependent on egg storage treatments employed. Egg storage temperature at 16°C and fumigation significantly (P 0.05). Egg storage temperature at 23°C resulted in slightly lower mean percentage hatchability than storage at 10°C, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). From the result of the current experiment, it was concluded that fumigation and medium egg storage temperature, 16°C is important for better hatching yield. Key words: Hatchability, Cobb 500, Hubbard, broiler, strain, temperature, fumigation.