Differentiating between fertilized and unfertilized eggs prior to incubation based on oxygen flux measurement

Authors

  • Wang Qiaohua 1. College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2. National Research and Development Center for Egg Processing, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Fu Dandan 1. College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Ma Meihu 1. National Research and Development Center for Egg Processing, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2. College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Zhang Tao 1. College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v10i4.2606

Keywords:

oxygen flux, gas exchange rates, fertilized eggs, unfertilized eggs, non-invasive micro-test technique

Abstract

One unresolved challenge in the egg industry is how to efficiently and non-invasively detect unfertilized eggs prior to incubation. This detection ability would not only significantly improve hatching rates and reduce costs but also conserve incubator space and prevent poor-quality embryos from contributing to the spread of infections. This study demonstrates a procedure for distinguishing between fertilized and unfertilized eggs prior to incubation by studying the respiratory differences between fertilized and unfertilized eggs using the Non-invasive Micro-test Technique (NMT). A customized micro-testing examination platform, NMT Egg Testing System (NMT-ETS) was constructed for the real-time monitoring of the intensity and rate of oxygen exchange between the egg and its external environment. The results from this study revealed that at room temperature, there is a significant difference in gas exchange rates between fertilized and unfertilized eggs. The results indicate that the oxygen flux of fertilized eggs exceed 20 pmol/(cm2•s), whereas unfertilized eggs show a much lower oxygen flux. Based on the results, the NMT method can be used to effectively distinguish between fertilized and unfertilized chicken eggs. Keywords: oxygen flux, gas exchange rates, fertilized eggs, unfertilized eggs, non-invasive micro-test technique DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20171004.2606 Citation: Wang Q H, Fu D D, Ma M H, Zhang T. Differentiating between fertilized and unfertilized eggs prior to incubation based on oxygen flux measurement. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(4): 243–251.

Author Biography

Wang Qiaohua, 1. College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2. National Research and Development Center for Egg Processing, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

professor

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Published

2017-07-31

How to Cite

Qiaohua, W., Dandan, F., Meihu, M., & Tao, Z. (2017). Differentiating between fertilized and unfertilized eggs prior to incubation based on oxygen flux measurement. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 10(4), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v10i4.2606

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2017): IJABE

Section

Agro-product and Food Processing Systems

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