Effect of storage periods and conditions on embryonic mortalities and hatchability of artificially incubated ostrich eggs

1. Despite substantial research, the hatching failure of ostrich eggs remains a key concern for many
commercial breeding farms.
2. This source of reproductive failure needs to be addressed for ostrich farming to become more
profitable.
3. Information from 2212 eggs were obtained from the ostrich resource flock at the Oudtshoorn
Research Farm (2013–2014). Egg data were divided on a daily basis into two groups: Group 1 included
eggs stored from 1 to 13 d in cold storage (CS) at a controlled temperature of 17°C and a relative
humidity (RH) of 90%. Group 2 was stored for the same time interval as Group 1, but in a cool room
(CR) at ambient temperature to simulate the uncontrolled storage conditions prevalent on most
breeding farms.
4. Overall embryonic mortalities (OEM) were significantly higher for eggs stored for 1 d (0.38 ± 0.04)
and for 8 d or more (between 0.31 ± 0.04 and 0.43 ± 0.04) compared to eggs stored for between 2 and
7 d (between 0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.26 ± 0.04).
5. The moisture loss during storage (ML) for eggs stored for 13 d in CS during spring was on average
slightly higher (1.28%) than that during summer (0.95%). In contrast, the ML of eggs stored in the CR
for 13 d was significantly higher, at 1.59% in spring and 2.08% in summer.
6. A general reduction in chick weight occurred for all the seasons (winter, spring and summer) as the
number of storage days increased. Ostrich eggs should be stored for between 2 and 8 d under
controlled storage conditions for improved hatchability.