Effects of oxygen-carbon dioxide levels in incubator and breeder age on heart and lung development of broiler chicks

In the present study, the effects of breeder flock age and oxygen-caobondioxide levels in incubator on broiler chick, heart and lung weights were investigated. For this purpose, 1920 hatching eggs (640 from each flock age) obtained from broiler breeding flocks of three different ages as young (25 weeks), middle-aged (36 weeks) and old (64 weeks) constituted the material of the study. During the incubation period, ventilation programs (CO2, C; O2, O ve O2-CO2, OC C) were applied to ensure the formation of different carbon dioxide-oxygen levels in the machine. The averages of O2-CO2 values in the control (K) and other treatment groups were (KO2/CO2, CO2/CO2, OO2/CO2, OCO2/CO2) 20,58-0,71; 20,49-0,96; 20,48-0,58 ve 21,13- 0,79 respectively. At the end of the study, the effects of breeder age and O2-CO2 levels on chick, heart and lung weight were evaluated separately and together (interaction). As a result, it was determined that breeder age significantly affected the chick, heart and lung weight (p=0,000, p=0,002 and p=0,001, respectively). It was determined that the O2-CO2 level in the incubator did not affect the chick weight (p=0,935), but significantly affected the heart and lung weights (p=0,000 and p=0,016, respectively). In addition, the interaction between the treatment groups was found to be significant in terms of both chick, heart and lung weights (p=0,000, p=0,000 and p=0,010, respectively). It is thought that it is necessary to continue the studies on the subject and to carry out more comprehensive studies that will include the post-incubation stages.