The effect of external egg quality traits on hatching results in geese

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of egg weight, shape index, egg shell opacity and shell thickness, which are egg external quality characteristics, on hatching results in native geese reared in Yozgat province, Türkiye. In the study, a total of 400 eggs were collected from parent geese at the age of 44 weeks during 3 weeks. The external quality characteristics of the collected eggs were determined and incubation was carried out. After incubation, weight and quality characteristics were determined. The study was evaluated according to the random plots experimental design. Data were subjected to variance analysis using one-way ANOVA procedure. Discrete data were analysed using the Generalized Linear Model procedure with binomial logit-link function for two levels and multinomial cumulative logit-link function for more than two levels. Higher egg width and length, egg weight, length, shank length and diameter were determined in the heavy egg group obtained from local genotype geese. In addition, a positive phenotypic correlation was determined between egg weight and body weight, length, shank diameter and length. Eggs with an egg shape index of less than 65% had a higher gosling weight. Hatching egg weight loss was higher in eggs with shell thickness less than 55 mm. There was a low level of positive phenotypic correlation between shell opacity and hatchability. The data obtained as a result of the study provided important information about egg quality characteristics, hatching results and gosling quality characteristics of native geese in Yozgat Region.