EFFECT OF AN INFRARED-BASED INCUBATION SYSTEM ON THE PRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF BROILER CHICKS
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Abstract
This study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of an infrared incubation system as an egg heat source, instead of conventional methods, on the productive traits of broiler chicks. The experiment was carried out at the hatchery of the Animal Production Department, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, from December 21, 2024, to January 11, 2025. An infrared incubation system was used and compared with egg incubation in a locally made hatchery and a commercial one.
Three hundred and sixty Ross 308 eggs were used, divided into three treatments (T1, T2, and T3). Each treatment contained 120 eggs, and each treatment was randomly divided into three replicates of 40 eggs each. Treatment T1 represented a commercial hatchery, while treatments T2 and T3 represented a homemade hatchery and an infrared hatchery, respectively. The chicks were reared for 35 days under controlled environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, ventilation, and lighting.
The results showed a significant decrease in body weight in treatment T3 compared to treatments T1 and T2 during the first two weeks. Weight gain was also reduced in the first (P≤0.0121) and fifth (P≤0.0247) weeks for the same treatment. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio increased in treatment T3 during various rearing periods, with a significant increase in mortality during the first week and the period from the hatching period was from day 1 to 21, with a decrease during the fifth week. Treatment T3 also showed an increase in the relative growth factor compared to treatment T2. It can be concluded that the infrared incubation system did not improve the productive traits of broiler chicks.
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