title: Effects of exposing ostrich eggs to doses of gamma radiation on hatchability, growth performance, and some blood biochemicals of hatched chicks.
abstract: Effects of radiating ostrich eggs before incubation on hatchability, growth performance, and some blood components of ostrich chicks were studied. 72 ostrich eggs were randomly distributed into four groups. The first group was kept without exposure to gamma radiation (control). The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were exposed to 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 Gy, respectively, of60Co gamma rays just before incubation. Total bacterial counts (×103CFU) were significantly increased with the increase in gamma radiation levels before incubation. Feed conversion was lower (P ≤ 0.01) in the control group than those irradiated. Embryonic mortality rate (%), hatchability (%) and chick weight at hatch, body weight, daily body weight gain, feed consumption, and all of hematology parameters studied were insignificantly fluctuated with the doses of gamma rays used. Serum concentrations of total protein, albumen, globulin, glucose, and triiodothyronin of the chicks from eggs of the control and the 1st group were significantly the highest. Chicks of the control group had significantly the lowest values of serum concentrations of uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, ALT, and AST when compared with the other groups. In conclusion, radiation of ostrich eggs before incubation with a dose of 0.8 Gy gamma has a stimulative effect upon the metabolism of hatched chicks.
authors: Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt. ostrichkhalid@zu.edu.eg.
authors: Khalid
authors: K
authors: Mahrose
authors: Biological Applications Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Elsayed
authors: Biological Applications Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Hamdy
authors: H
authors: Basuony
authors: Biological Applications Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Nour
authors: N
authors: Gouda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004531:Eggs / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: Blood parameters; Gamma radiation; Growth performance; Hatchability; Ostrich