study the effect of eggs incubation parameter …
TRANSCRIPT
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STUDY THE EFFECT OF EGGS INCUBATION PARAMETER
THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW EXPERIMENTAL RIG FOR
IKTA QUAILS SPECIES
MOHD BADLI BIN RAMLI
A thesis submitted in
fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the
Degree of Master Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
AUGUST 2017
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For my beloved father, mother, wife and family.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All praise to the Almighty Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful and Most
Benevolent for giving me an opportunity to study in higher education and giving me
strength and patience in completing this master thesis.
I am very fortunate to have a kindhearted person to guide me throughout my research
work and here I would like to show my heartfelt sincere gratitude to my respectful
mentor which is my supervisor Associate Professor Ir.Dr.MD SAIDIN WAHAB for
his invaluable guidance and support. I am very indebted for his inspiration and
continuous motivation which really help me in completing my project.
I also extend heartfelt thanks to my colleague Mr. Azli, Khairu, Aqeel, Abdul ladim,
Rahman and Mokhtar. I owe him a great deal for his valuable guidance and informative
suggestion which been really a great help for me to complete my project.
Finally, I would also like to thank my beloved late father mother, wife and family for
giving me the support and confidence during the entire this research work. It is a true
blessing for me having them in my life as they are my inspiration and motivation.
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ABSTRACT
Nowadays, machine is utilized as an alternative way to hatch eggs, however various
temperature settings are used that result in different percentages of hatching between
hatcheries. This study aims to investigate the effect of increasing incubation
temperature, eggs movement type, and incubation time through a set of experimental
rigs developed specifically to suit the experimental needs to determine the best eggs
incubation parameter. Air flow and heat movements were simulated using
Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulation and Modelling (CFX) to study the heat flow
effect on hatchability before incubation construction. For case study, Institut
Kemahiran Ternakan Ayam (IKTA) species used as test subjects. Incubation period
took 17 days to completed. Setting temperature in each test run was different in the
first day to the 14th and 15th to 17th day. First test run, the setting was 37 °C for 14
days then 38 °C for 3 days. In second incubation, 38 °C on the 14th day and 39 °C for
3 days, then third setting at 39°C on the 14th day and 40 °C for 3 days. Each setting
was repeated three times, thus nine test runs were performed. With the same setting
incubation temperature and humidity, two types of eggs movement were conducted in
the same incubation chamber, 40 eggs were placed in 45 ° swing and 360 ° rolling.
Unhatched eggs were opened and examined to see any abnormalities that may cause
death of the embryo. From the data collected, temperature 37 °C14day 38 °C3day
produced 89.17% eggs hatch, first eggs hatch in day 14 with average 5.42%, ends in
day 16. By increasing 1-degree temperature, it decreased hatching to 84.17% with
6.67% hatch in day 14. By increasing 1 degrees, resulted just 76.67% eggs hatch,
average 12.91% hatch in day 14. Thus, proved that by increasing temperature to 39°C
was not as successful as 37 °C. Excessive temperature did not increase hatchability but
speed up hatching time, it may cause embryonic mortality to egg development.
Overall, experimental rig produces 83.16% hatching with 360 ° rolling produced
slightly higher hatching average at 83.33% compared to 83% with 45° swing.
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ABSTRAK
Pada masa ini, mesin penetasan digunakan sebagai alternatif untuk menetaskan telur,
namun tiada panduan tetapan suhu piawaian digunakan, lalu mengakibatkan kadar
penetasan yang berbeza. Kajian ini melihat kesan peningkatan suhu penetasan, jenis
pergerakan telur, dan masa pengeraman melalui satu set rig eksperimen dibangunkan
khusus. Aliran udara dan pergerakan haba disimulasikan menggunakan analisis CFX.
Bagi kajian kes, telur puyuh dari spesies Institut Kemahiran Ternakan Ayam (IKTA)
dipilih. Pengeraman mengambil masa 17 hari, suhu pengeraman pada setiap ujian
berbeza pada hari pertama hingga ke hari ke-14 dan hari ke-15 hingga ke-17. Set
pertama, suhu ditetapkan 37 °C selama 14 hari kemudian ditingkatkan kepada 38 °C
selama 3 hari. Set kedua suhu ditingkatkankan 38 °C hingga hari ke-14 dan 39 °C
selama 3 hari. Set ketiga 39 °C sehingga hari ke-14 dan ditingkatkan kepada 40 °C
selama 3 hari, setiap set suhu tetapan diulang tiga kali bersamaan dengan 9 ujian
dimana suhu dan kelembapan pengeraman yang sama, dua jenis pergerakan telur
dijalankan serentak di ruang pengeraman, 40 telur diletakkan dalam ayunan 45 ° dan
berguling 360 °. Telur yang tidak menetas akan dipecahkan dan diperiksa untuk
melihat kenapa tidak menetas. Telur mula menetas pada hari ke-14 dan berakhir pada
hari ke-16, untuk suhu 37 °C 14hari 38 °C 3hari menghasilkan 89.17 % penetasan secara
purata dari 3 ujian dan purata penetasan pada hari 14 ialah 5.42 %. Dengan
meningkatkan suhu 1 darjah, purata menetas menurun kepada 84.17% dan penetasan
pada hari ke 14 ialah 6.67%. Dengan meningkatkan suhu 2 darjah menghasilkan purata
76.67 % penetasan dan purata penetasan hari ke 14 ialah 12.91 %. Oleh itu,
membuktikan bahawa dengan meningkatkan suhu kepada 39°C tidak meningkatkan
peratusan penetasan sebaik 37 °C. Peningkatan suhu dapat memendekkan masa
penetasan yang mungkin boleh membantutkan kepada perkembangan telur. Secara
purata mesin ini menghasilkan 83.16%, kaedah berguling 360 ° penetasan lebih tinggi
83.33% berbanding 83% dengan ayunan 45°.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENT vi
ABSTRACT vii
ABSTRAK viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
LIST OF TABLES xiii
LIST OF FIGURES xiv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvii
LIST OF APPENDICES xviii
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Eggs incubation 1
1.2 Research background 1
1.3 Problem Statement 1
1.4 Objectives of Study 1
1.5 Scope of Study 4
1.6 Rational of Research 5
Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 6
2.0 Background 6
2.1 Embryo Formation 7
2.2 Eggs Incubation Process 9
2.2.1 Institut Kemahiran Ternakan Ayam 10
2.3 Types of Eggs Incubation System 11
2.4 Home-made incubator machine 12
2.4.1 Types of incubator machine in the market 12
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2.4.1.1 Automatic forced air incubator 13
2.4.1.2 Still air incubator 13
2.4.1.3 Mini eco incubator 14
2.5 Incubation parameter 15
2.5.1 Incubation temperature 15
2.5.2 Incubation humidity 16
2.6 Incubation hatchability 17
2.7 Eggs rotation 17
2.7.1 Eggs placement mechanism 19
2.7.1.1 Slanting Tray 19
2.7.1.2 Rolling 360° 20
2.8 Patent Search 22
2.8.1 Patent of automatic Incubator Machine 22
2.8.2 Paten of Incubation Machine with Automatic
Temperature and Humidity Control 23
2.9 Control System 24
2.9.1 Data Acquisition 25
2.10 Summary of Literature 25
Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY 26
3.0 Introduction 26
3.1 Flow Chart 27
3.2 Project development 28
3.3 Analysis of activities 30
3.3.1 Decomposition analysis of components 31
3.4 Analysis of function decomposition components 32
3.5 Simulation study 32
3.5.1 Computational domain 33
3.5.2 Boundary condition and simulation setup 35
3.6 Experimental rig component 36
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3.6.1 Incubation chamber design 36
3.6.2 Air flow design 37
3.6.3 Egg Movement Type 38
3.6.4 Electrical and electronic system design 40
3.6.5 Processing unit 41
3.6.6 Design interface display system 41
3.6.7 Input unit 44
3.6.8 Output unit 45
3.6.9 Equipment for experimental rig development 45
3.7 Standard operating procedure 46
3.8 Control system 47
3.8.1 Hardware design 48
3.8.2 Master controller circuit 49
3.8.3 Microcontroller Advantech PCI 1850 50
3.9 Experimental study 51
3.10 Summary 51
Chapter 4 DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL RIG 52
4.0 Introduction 52
4.1 Mechanical Component Design 52
4.1.1 Calculation of component design 52
4.1.2 Determining the amount of speed, torque
and power 55
4.1.3 Specifying the length of the belt (L) 58
4.1.4 Determining the type of motor/gear motor
most suited for applications 61
4.1.5 Determining the force stretching the
force F1 and F2 on the conveyor belt 62
4.2 CFX heat and air flow analysis 69
4.2.1 Temperature 69
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4.2.2 Velocity 71
4.3 Control system 73
4.4 Summary 74
Chapter 5 RESULT AND DISCUSSION 75
5.0 Experimental study 75
5.1 Preliminary Work 75
5.2 Result on hatching of IKTA quails 78
5.2.1 Comparison between rolling 360° and slant
45° on day 14, 15 and 16 for IKTA quails 83
5.2.1.2 Effect of increasing incubation
temperature to first day hatching 86
5.2.2 Temperature and humidity chart 86
5.2.3 Factor that may lead to embryo death 88
5.2.4 Humidity device 94
5.2.5 Temperature device 95
5.2.6 Eggs hatching through time laps technology 96
5.2.7 Processing window for optimal incubation
parameter for IKTA species 97
5.3 Summary 98
Chapter 6 CONCLUSION 99
6.1 Introduction 99
6.2 Limitations and Future Recommendations 101
6.3 Contribution to new knowledge 102
6.4 References 103
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LIST OF TABLE
Table 2.1: Automatic forced air incubator 13
Table 2.2: Automatic still air incubator with specification 14
Table 2.3: Automatic still air incubator with specification 14
Table 2.4: Estimated period and specification of quail eggs
inside the incubation machine 17
Table 2.5: Patent on automatic incubator machine 22
Table 2.6: Patent on automatic incubator machine 23
Table 3.1: List of activities for quail egg incubation machine 31
Table 3.2: Details of simulation setup 36
Table 4.1: Average weight and size of quail eggs for three egg samples 53
Table 4.2: Summary of data obtained from the calculation 58
Table 4.3: The need for geared motor selection 61
Table 4.4: Criteria for the selection of conveyor belt 63
Table 4.5: Service factor Ks 64
Table 4.6: Correction factor Cp pulleys for flat pulleys 65
Table 4.7: Summary of data obtained from calculation 69
Table 5.1: Result on nine incubations for IKTA quails 76
Table 5.2: Average percentage of eggs hatching in three different temperature
Settings 77
Table 5.3: Observation on IKTA quails hatching in Mr. Rahim’s Farm 85
Table 5.4: Best incubation temperature and humidity 98
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1: Embryo development of quails 8
Figure 2.2: Forced air type of incubation machine 11
Figure 2.3: Still air type incubation machine 12
Figure 2.4: Slanting egg turning method 19
Figure 2.5: Moving floor egg turning method 21
Figure 3.1: The flow chart 27
Figure 3.2: Decomposition components of quail egg incubation 31
Figure 3.3: Function decomposition diagram of the quail egg incubation machine 32
Figure 3.4: The flow of components in ANSYS CFX 33
Figure 3.5: The computational domain of the present simulation study 34
Figure 3.6: The computational domain with meshes 34
Figure 3.7: The cross section of the computational domain showing denser mesh
around egg holders 34
Figure 3.8: Details of the boundary condition 35
Figure 3.9: Design of incubator wall with insulation 37
Figure 3.10: Air flow inside the incubation chamber 38
Figure 3.11: Eggs movement rolling mechanism 360° 39
Figure 3.12: Eggs movement mechanism 45 swing 40
Figure 3.13: Electrical and electronic system design block diagram 40
Figure 3.14: Actual electrical circuit 41
Figure 3.15: Main interface for smart QB incubator 42
Figure 3.16: Profile setting interface 43
Figure 3.17: History viewer interface 43
Figure 3.18: I/O Manual interface 44
Figure 3.19: Data logging and monitoring 44
Figure 3.20: Project standard of procedure 45
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Figure 3.21: Electrical circuit 47
Figure 3.22: Controller circuit diagram 50
Figure 4.1: Composition of pulleys and belts 51
Figure4.2: Composition of pulleys and belts for pulleys 1 and 2 56
Figure4.3: Composition of pulleys and belts for pulleys 2 and 5 59
Figure4.4: No open conveyor belt system turned 60
Figure4.5: Force on the conveyor belts for pulleys 1 and 2 62
Figure4.6: Force on the conveyor belts for pulleys 3 and 5 66
Figure4.7: Temperature’s streamlines of the present simulation study 69
Figure4.8: The side view of the computational domain 70
Figure4.9: Velocity streamlines of the present simulation study 70
Figure4.10: The side view of the computational domain 71
Figure4.11: Smart QB incubator complete diagram connection 72
Figure5.1: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 1st incubation 73
Figure5.2: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 2nd incubation 78
Figure5.3: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 3rd incubation 79
Figure5.4: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 4th incubation 79
Figure5.5: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 5th incubation 80
Figure5.6: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 6th incubation 80
Figure5.7: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 7th incubation 81
Figure5.8: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 8th incubation 81
Figure5.9: Hatching pattern in day 14, 15 and 16 for 9th incubation 82
Figure5.10: Day 14 comparison on 1st, 4th and 7th incubation sets 82
Figure5.11: Day 14 comparison on 2nd, 5th and 8th incubation sets 84
Figure5.12: Day 14 comparison on 3rd, 6th and 9th incubation sets 84
Figure5.13: Observation at Mr. Rahim’s farm 85
Figure5.14: 1st incubation parameter set at 37°C14day, 38°C3day 86
Figure5.15: 2nd incubation parameter set at 38°C14day, 39°C3day 87
Figure5.16: 3rd incubation parameter set at 39°C14day, 40°C3day 87
Figure5.17: Data on unhatched eggs 88
Figure5.18: Malposition of egg’s embryo facing the small end of the egg 89
Figure5.19: Head buried between the thighs 90
Figure5.20: Malpositioned eggs orientation 91
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Figure5.21: DIS caused by the embryo’s inability to absorb yolk sac 91
Figure5.22: Malpositioned egg’s death caused by fatigue 92
Figure5.23: Late hatched egg in day 18 or 19 92
Figure5.24: Brooder farm with heating element 93
Figure5.25: Ultrasonic water forger 94
Figure5.26: Heat source in side incubator 94
Figure5.27: Hatching observation using hyper lap’s technology 95
Figure5.28: Temperature and humidity processing window 96
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CAD - Computer Aided Design
DOQ - Day One Quails
IKTA - Institut Kemahiran Ternakan Ayam
CFX - Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulation and Modelling
CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamic
VI - Virtual Instruments
CPU - Central Processing Unit
ROM - Read Only Memory
RAM - Random-Access Memory
DIG - Early Embryonic Mortality
DIS - Late Embryonic Mortality
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LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDICES A- Equipment of Experimental Rig Development…………….….107
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Eggs Incubation
Nowadays, more importance are put on agriculture and livestock farming as the field
continues to grow with advanced technology developments. More technologies are
created to further develop especially in the poultry industries. Eggs incubation refers
to the process through which certain oviparous (egg-laying) animals hatch their eggs;
it also refers to the development of the embryo within the egg (Abiola et al, 1999).
Multiple factors are vital to the successful incubation of various animal species
(Benjamin& Oye, 2012).
The obvious difference between natural and artificial incubation is that a hen
provides natural heat and environmental humidity to the egg through body warmth (Ar
and Rahn, 1980), while an incubator uses a set of heater and humidifier to supply
sufficient and ideal setting parameters (Givisiez, et al., 2000). The act of turning avian
eggs during incubation affects the physical aspects of the embryo and extra-embryonic
membranes including the formation of sub embryonic fluid, utilization of albumen,
and embryonic growth according to (Elibol and Brake, 2004).
Eggs incubator is an alternative technology to hatch poultry eggs without
involving a brooding parent. It is designed to improve the available eggs incubator in
order to change the traditional farming methods to the advanced and modern farming
methods (Dutta and Allen, 1991). Introducing the automatic quail eggs incubator may
help our country to achieve a food trade balance surplus and could help expose farmers
to the latest technology in incubating quail eggs.
An embryo begins development even before the egg leaves the hen's body, and
continues its development with the help of optimum environmental factors. There are
numerous factors that influence embryonic development throughout incubation
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(Dahouda et al., 2013), including environmental temperature, humidity, air movement,
and turning of the egg (French, 1997). These factors are altered depending on the
number of eggs set, the age of the egg in the set, the age of the hen at lay, and the breed
of the hen (Jobling, 2010).
Turning is one of the factors that can have detrimental and beneficial effects (Frank,
1969). This factor will be discussed in more detail in this study. Air movement through
the incubator is essential for the removal of metabolic heat and carbon dioxide from
around the egg (Jeffrey, 2008). Turning alters this air movement, causes varying
microclimates deviating from the set point in the air around some of the eggs. This can
lead to a wider hatch window and a variance in chick quality (Laseinde, 1994). The
angle and frequency of turning, orientation of the egg, and age of the embryo during
which the egg is turned during incubation all influence embryo growth and normal
development (Sophie et al., 2010). Alternatively, the incubator is designed to improve
the available eggs incubator in order to change the traditional farming method to a
more advanced and modern farming method.
1.2 Research Background
According to Jabatan Veterinar Negeri Johor, the current local hatchery for quails in
Johor has shown low hatching rates. It has been reported that the recent success rate is
around 65%. Among the factors that contribute to low hatching are high heat loss
during incubation period, bacterial cross contamination from the incubator machine to
DOQ (day one quail), inconsistent incubation temperature, humidity etc. In addition is
the fact that the existing incubation machine could not acquire data storage for further
analysis. These factors contribute to the loss of profit in each cycle. Unstandardized
temperature, humidity and turning frequency in each hatchery (Rader, 1988), these
factors may lead to high percentages of embryonic mortality hence cause domino’s
effect to the supply and demand in quail’s meat and eggs production (Oluyemi, 1979).
Low hatchability of eggs causes revenue loss to the hatchery company, thus low DOQ
results in less amount of quail meat in the market.
These situations have long been occurring in the quail’s industry and no
preventive action has been taken by the authorities. The independent local quail’s
breeder in Johore are in a dilemma due to the low hatching of eggs caused by
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inefficient eggs incubator machine. Some of the machines are imported and some of
them are made by local manufacturers. None of them has data acquisition capability
to store previous incubation data such as incubation temperature, humidity and number
of eggs movement. Previous incubation data from the control system of an incubation
machine are important in investigating the trend, pattern, and behavior of eggs
hatchability in each incubation machine system, as well as what actually happened
during the last incubation period that could be the root cause of the low hatchability.
1.3 Problem Statement
There are a lot of eggs incubators in the market right now, imported or made locally.
Most of commercial hatchery use imported incubator machine with high technology
to ensure consistency of eggs hatching in each batch. Meanwhile smaller hatchery uses
lower end to middle incubator in term of price and technology, because of that there
are some issues on existing incubators in the market that lead to low hatching rates.
Most of incubator use in Malaysia didn’t gone through air and heat simulation analysis
inside the incubation chamber, this factor may cause low hatchability because of
uneven heat distribution through incubated eggs. Other factor that may contribute to
lower hatch rates are, first most of these machines do not have accurate and consistent
temperature and humidity control (Raven,1987), incubator didn’t have a system to
acquire setting parameter data storage for monitoring and further analysis. Secondly,
bacterial built up and cross contamination between incubator to day one quail, this
factor causes by low quality and less durable building components that can grow
bacteria, default electrical devices and low-grade materials used also contribute to low
hatchability. This problem becomes a pulling factor to the researcher to develop an
experimental rig that can independently set the incubation parameter individually and
differently for each incubation day. Third, nowadays there are no manufacturer
produce incubator that consists of two different types of eggs movement in the same
incubation chamber and able to monitor, acquire and log every data from the system.
Forth, there is no specific study on the best setting parameter or comparison
made between slanting and rolling mechanisms in eggs incubation, so developers
didn’t know which system is the best in producing high hatching rates, equal hatching
time, and good quality DOQ. Fifth, by collection of previous incubation data, will
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enable researcher to form a better understanding on the flow of each incubation set and
what happening if there is a problem occurred, with this study, researcher can identify
main factors that contribute to high hatchability and what actually happens during the
entire incubation period. The development of an experimental rig will provide full
control on incubation setting that may offer a solution to lower incubation rates in
Malaysia’s eggs hatching industry. This research also recommends some
improvements that need to be done in achieving high hatchability and increased DOQ
quality in the experimental rig and further research.
1.4 Objectives of Study
i) To design and develop experimental rig as artificial incubation, with a system that able
to control and store data on setting parameter such as temperature, humidity and eggs
movement function.
ii) To investigate the effect of increasing incubation temperature on eggs hatchability
properties, hatching time and eggs movement type.
iii) To evaluate the hatchability through experimental study on IKTA quail eggs species
due to eggs movement at 45° slanting and 360° rolling by eggs rotation mechanism
1.5 Scope of Study
i) This research focus on developing an experimental rig that is able to record and
manipulate data input of the eggs incubation.
ii) Analysis of heat and air distribution inside the incubation chamber through CFX
analysis.
iii) Comparison on hatching percentages between 360° rolling and 45° slanting eggs
rotation mechanism.
iv) Only quail eggs from IKTA species are to be used.
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1.6 Rational of Research
The rational of this research is when the reported data from Veterinary institute shown
the lower incubation rates of eggs from local quail’s hatchery in Johor. This research
aims to investigate the root cause of this problem and solve it through a set of
experimental rig. Finding from this research can help increasing eggs hatchability of
IKTA quails and increase production of quails’ meat and profits to the quail’s industry.
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Background
Artificial eggs hatching is a new way to hatch eggs into chicks without the present of
a mother hen (Oluyemi, 1979). It includes the control of ideal incubation environment
that surrounding the eggs inside the incubation chamber. Naturally, a mother hen has
low hatching rates and inconsistence (French, 1997). Nowadays, bird egg hatchery has
become an important asset to breeders especially in the quail breeding industry because
it is a very lucrative business. Incubator technology is being used to hatch eggs into
day one quails (DOQ) without any incubation involvement from the parent. This
process has existed since a few thousand years ago, pioneered by the China and Egypt
civilizations (Benjamin & Oye (2012). The difference between the natural and the
incubation machine is that in the natural way, a parent uses its body temperature to
hatch eggs while the incubator machine uses heating elements such as a bulb or an air
type heater to heat up the air around the quail eggs (Meir et al., 1984).
There are two types of quail egg incubation process; the traditional method and
the modern method. The traditional method has been used since a very long time ago
and may still be in use. There are several elements in the incubation process that are
important to produce DOQ. These elements are humidity, egg movement, air flow and
temperature effect inside the incubation chamber. The elements are essential in
ensuring that the incubation process ends up with a high percentage of eggs hatching.
Traditional method uses heating elements to generate heat from sources of fire; for
example, charcoal embers, lamps, and burning firewood. Eggs also need to be
frequently rotated manually to ensure the egg surfaces are exposed evenly to heat.
After thousands of years of using this method, humans have started considering a more
effective way of hatching eggs artificially. Various incubator forms and versions were
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created either manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic. The modern method uses
bulbs or air type heaters to generate heat through electricity, egg turning tools to
automatically rotate the eggs and automatic condition regulation to keep heat, humidity
and air flow on the required levels. Two incubator models are available with regards
to the air flow; still air and forced or coerced air. A still air model does not use any
blower fan or also known as an exhaust fan to channel warm air. On the other hand,
the forced air model has an exhaust fan to channel hot air to keep the heat, humidity
and oxygen level balanced and is widely used (Nakage et al., 2003).
2.1 Embryo Formation
Embryo formation in an egg is a continuous process and can be categorized into three
phases - formation, growth and maturity. Usually, embryo formation happened on the
first day of the incubation process (Rice and Bots, 1986). Embryo growth and maturity
take place in the embryo formation phase as shown in Figure 2.1. Each of this phase
needs certain specific conditions. When an embryo grows, its metabolic rate will
increase to match the increase in heat production produced by the egg (Benjamin &
Oye (2012). Due to this, the embryo’s natural pattern shows an increase at the end of
the incubation process.
Inside the incubator, different temperature points need to be set depending on
where the incubator operates (Rahn et al., 1981). At the beginning of the incubation
process, the embryo produces little heat and the egg must be warmed. This means that
the inside temperature of the incubation machine must be higher than the egg
temperature, thus Metabolic heat production increases in line with embryo growth
(Singh, 1990). The air that surrounded the egg needs to be chilled, so excessive heat
can be eliminated from the egg (French, 1997). During the incubation process, water
loss in eggs is a common thing, between usually 12 % to 14 % water content (Rahn &
AR, 1974). Nevertheless, too low or too high-water loss will influence embryo
development (Rahn et al., 1974) and egg hatchability (Meir et al., 1984). Hatching
temperature above the optimum point will cause excessive water loss in eggs (higher
than 14%), which in return will lead to embryonic death due to dehydration (Nakage
et al., 2003). On the other hand, a temperature under the optimum point will reduce
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the hatchability rate, for it lowers the rate of water loss under 12 % and declines gas
exchange (Romanoff, 1930).
Figure 2.1: Embryo development of quails (Sophie et al., 2010)
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2.2 Eggs Incubation Process
Egg incubation is a technology that provides opportunity for farmers to produce chicks
from eggs without the consent of the hen, and is also one of the fastest ways of
transforming eggs into chicks. The artificial incubation is different than the natural
incubation where eggs are surrounded by heat rather than having the natural parent
provide warmth to the eggs through body contact (Benjamin. 2012). Every bird that
lay eggs has their own incubation period, eggs movement, specific temperature and
humidity to hatch their eggs.
An incubation machine is a machine that resembles a box, designed to replace
the incubation process by animal parents. It is capable of keeping eggs safe for the
incubation process and contains a system that controls and maintains the required
temperature, humidity of the air, oxygen content and other circumstances needed to
hatch the animal eggs (Sansomboonsuk, 2011). Temperature, humidity, eggs
movement, air flow and bacteria contamination are the most crucial factors that
contribute to a higher hatching rate, uniform hatching and quality day one quails.
Uniform hatching environment encourages healthy embryo development. An
automatic driver device turns the quail eggs at least twice a day. The incubation
machine needs to be placed in a closed area, such as inside a room with good air flow.
This can avoid dramatic temperature changes apart from making it easier to maintain
uniformed temperature and humidity (Abu, 2008). This technique is important to
ensure a high hatching rate.
The incubation characteristics of every egg is different according to bird
species. The species that have high market demand and are most popular among
farmers these days are chicken, ducks and quails. Today, incubation machines are
widely used in the breeding industry whether in a small, medium, or large scale.
According to Pusat Transformasi Komuniti Universiti, UPM, there are various
advantages of using incubation machines. For example, the quantity of eggs produced
can be increased because hens can lay eggs all year-round without the need to sit
through incubation periods. Apart from that, the growth rate and quail chick hatching
time can be standardized. Quail chicks that hatch together can also save upbringing
space because no parent is needed. This will facilitate the animal husbandry process.
Other positive benefits include being safe from dangerous predators like iguana, snake,
monkey and fox, and away from the cold natural environment. Disease carrier threats
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