Industrial incubation method of eggs with non-invasive application of oxygen therapy in modified hyperbaric atmosphere

Abstract

The present invention refers to an innovative system for industrial incubation of eggs of commercial poultry, more specifically in the technical field of poultry farming. This invention proposes the non- invasive egg inoculation of oxygen during incubation by means of oxygen therapy in hyperbaric chambers, ensuring a modified atmosphere with higher levels of oxygen for embryonic development, exceeding the rate of 21% found in the atmosphere. This results in better hatchability rates, reduced embryonic mortality and improved animal welfare, providing significant zootechnical and economic benefits compared to conventional incubation techniques.

Description

INDUSTRIAL INCUBATION METHOD OF EGGS WITH NON-INVASIVE APPLICATION OF OXYGEN THERAPY IN MODIFIED HYPERBARIC ATMOSPHERE Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of industrial poultry farming, more speci fically to the process of industrial incubation of eggs of commercial poultry .Background of the invention

[0002] The industrial poultry farming consolidates as one of the more advanced sectors of the agribusiness , feeding Brazil and worldwide with meat and eggs of high quality and producing immuni zation agents . This activity stands out as a successful model , combining high product ivity and quality, food safety and animal wel fare . The technology, the genetic advances and the constant search for enhancement guarantee a prominent position in the global supply chain of animal protein . Broiler chicken and laying hen, among other commercially exploited poultry, have been showing signi ficant increases in production capacity, shown among others , by feed conversion ( less feed to produce more meat ) , by the egg laying rate , by the greater deposition o f value- added meat (breast ) and lower fat content . In this context , the incubation of commercial poultry eggs is a crucial link in the production chain, as it is where everything starts . However technologi cal advancements in genetics , nutrition, animal wel fare and incubation environment , hatchability results still present opportunities for improvement when analyzing the state of the art for commercial poultry . Analyzing the main poultry genetics available worldwide , it is noted that hatchability rates have not evolved at thesame rate as other indicators mentioned above over the years . Recent advances in the field of industrial incubation ( as an example , we highl ight the adoption of the incubation technology called single-stage ) have brought improvements in hatchability; however, the industry still operates with embryonic mortal ity rates of around 10 to 15% of the total number of eggs incubated .

[0003] In other words , there is an obvious problem here : embryonic mortality resulting from di f ficulty in hatching is generating millions in financial losses for the sector .

[0004] Through the present invention, it is possible to signi ficantly reduce financial losses due to embryonic mortality by improving egg hatchability, improving not only the zootechnical results of a flock of breeding birds , but also the conditions of animal wel fare , increasing the food supply and reducing the environmental impacts of livestock activity . After millions of years of natural selection, birds have evolved as superior homeothermic animals capable of generating extrauterine l i fe through the allocation of the necessary nutrients during the formation of the egg and its components . Embryonic physiology is basically aerobic, since through the use of oxygen the biochemical reactions inside the egg produce the best results for cell di f ferentiation and energy production by / for the embryo . Although it is essential to sust ain li fe and embryonic development , Oxygen is the only nutrient not suf ficiently available inside the egg . In this way, during embryonic development , until the embryo begins to breathe through the air chamber inside the egg, oxygen is exchanged with atmospheric air by di f fusionthrough the pores (Ar A, Visschedijk AHJ, Rahn H, Piiper J. Carbon dioxide in the chick embryo towards end of development: effect of He and SF6 in breathing mixture. Respiratory Physiology 1980; 40:293-307) by pressure differential and through diffusion it connects to receptors found on red cells located in the chorioallantoic circulation adjacent to the shell, and its respiratory function persists until the end of the process of embryonic development (Tazawa, H.; Whittow, G. C. Incubation Physiology. In: Sturkie's Avian Physiology, 2000) . In this way, adequate cellular respiration processes and appropriate aerobic embryonic development are ensured.

[0005] The embryo's demand for oxygen varies depending on its size (the larger or more developed the embryo, more oxygen is required) or its thermoregulatory status (the warmer it is, the more oxygen is required) .

[0006] In modern hatcheries, eggs are incubated in the presence of 21% (twenty one percent) oxygen (or less) inside the hatchery, a percentage that is practically compatible with the natural composition of atmospheric air under normal conditions.

[0007] However, immediately after the start of the process, oxygen gas levels fall due to embryonic metabolism (oxygen consumption by the embryos of hundreds of thousands of eggs) and technical recommendations that prevent air renewal, with the deliberate intention of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, thus lowering the oxygen levels.

[0008] Due to increased metabolic activities in the final half of incubation, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels increase further, and the growing embryo needs more oxygen(O2) (Stock M.K., Metcalfe J. Modulation of growth and metabolism of the chick embryo by a brief (72-hr) change in oxygen availability. J. Exp. Zool. Suppl. 1987; 1:351-356) . As reported (Hamidu, J.; A. Fasenko, G.M.; Feddes, J. J. R. The effect of broiler breeder genetic strain and parent flock age on eggshell conductance and embryonic metabolism. Poultry Science, V86pg 2420-2432, 2007.) , oxygen (O2) consumption increases mainly after the twelfth day of incubation, reaching a plateau two days before the so-called internal pecking occurs (the process by which the bird pecks the shell with the intention of breaking it) . According to the authors (cited by Barbosa, V. M. Fisiologia da incubagao and desenvolvimento embrionario - Belo Horizonte: FEP MVZ, 2011) , this plateau occurs due to the inability of the shell and / or the embryo's circulatory system to absorb the oxygen necessary for its demand.

[0009] In the state of the art, it is noted that incubation machines have specialized in providing precise temperature conditions, air renewal for handling produced carbon dioxide (CO2) , relative humidity and egg movement, in a simulation often considered as an almost flawless "mechanical hen", holding up to 130,000 fertile eggs in each cycle inside each incubation cabinet (a space similar to a closed box where trays with eggs for incubation are arranged) .

[0010] The air renewal in these cabinets, during the incubation process, despite being a known method, is done via simple ventilation with fans which are only capable of renewing the air controlling the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) , however, such equipment and their methods are notcapable of increasing the concentration of oxygen in the composition of the atmospheric air inside the incubation cabinet .

[0011] Thus, in current incubation device, there is a required high increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels inside the incubation cabinet at the beginning of the embryonic development process, restricting the embryos' access to oxygen (decreasing it to percentages lower than 21%) , forcing them to be born unnaturally and prematurely (forced by not "breathing") . This happens in all industrial incubation processes, both in national Brazilian equipment, as can be seen in the state of the art (all models produced by COOPERMAQ COOPERATIVA DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS de and GASP INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO LTDA) or with foreign technology (for example, equipment from the companies Petersime NV, Royal Pas Reform BV, Hatch tech BV, Jamesway Chick Master Incubator Inc) .

[0012] However, there is absolutely no incubation method worldwide that monitors and manages the oxygen levels present in the storage room (during embryonic diapause) or even incubation (during embryonic development and bird hatching) , nor that promotes an increase in oxygen levels instead of carbon dioxide.

[0013] The new method presented here, unlike existing methods in the state of the art and unlike what is widely used, uses a modified hyperbaric atmosphere to increase and control the oxygen levels (percentage) in the incubation cabinet environment, while the other existing methods work with the control of carbon dioxide (CO2) itself. Knowing that CO2 is a result of embryonic metabolism, themore CO2 is controlled, the less O2 is controlled. Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide take antagonistic (opposing) directions; therefore, the existing state of the art should not be confused with the innovative method presented here.

[0014] In this way, it is an object of the present invention an innovative method that aims precisely to mitigate the problem of mortality due to the difficulty in hatchability, for this purpose, guaranteeing the non- invasive egg inoculation of oxygen with the application of oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric environment (commonly known in engineering as a controlled or modified atmosphere) in the process of incubation, from diapause to the birth of the birds, applies as an invention patent that is now presented.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the results of improvement in hatchability obtained with the implementation of the method presented here.Description of the invention

[0016] Unless otherwise indicated, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of the ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology applied in the description of the present invention is for the sole purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0017] The present specification refers to an invention patent of a new industrial incubation method of eggs for birds, from diapause to birth of the birds.

[0018] In this way, the present invention has as its object a method in the form of non- invasive egg inoculationof oxygen in embryos ( Oxygen therapy) , carried out by exposing embryonated eggs to hyperbaric environments (with greater oxygen pressure than atmospheric air ) at any stage of their development or diapause in a cont inuous , intermittent or single dosed manner . By controlling and monitoring increased levels of oxygen gas in the environment ( above 21 and, preferably, below 30% ) , better overal l hatching results are obtained as it is thus possible to provide greater availability of this gas for the continuity of embryonic development via aerobic pathways .

[0019] With the eggs already placed inside the incubation cabinet , the hyperbaric environment creation device increases the oxygen concentration inside the incubation cabinet , providing non-invasive inoculation of oxygen into the eggs ( Oxygen therapy) which receive the aforementioned gas through the existing micropores in the shell .

[0020] Once the embryonated eggs have been exposed to hyperbaric environments (with greater oxygen pressure than atmospheric air ) created inside the incubator / hatcher or in any other environment and at any stage of their development or diapause , the embryos absorb more oxygen and in a better way, this is because the hyperbaric environment allows the monitoring of the levels of this gas in the environment , ensuring the di f fusion of oxygen to the egg, / embryo in an ef fective and controllable manner .

[0021] With better oxygen absorption, better overall hatching results are obtained as it is thus possible to provide greater avail abil ity of this gas for the continui tyof embryonic development via aerobic pathways, resulting in more effective hatching.Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0022] In incubation processes with the observance and use of the method described here, it was possible to identify an immediate improvement in the hatchability process according to the oxygen levels and, consequently, a reduction in the mortality rate for this reason.

[0023] To implement the method in industrial incubation device, before creating the hyperbaric environment, it is necessary to insert an oxygen sensor inside the incubation cabinet, provide hermetic insulation of the cabinet doors and windows, as well as hermetic sealing of the air inlet and outlet pipes, in a controllable manner.

[0024] Furthermore, the oxygen distribution piping for delivery should preferably be coupled with the equipment's air inlet.

[0025] The incubator or hatcher control panel (console) must be equipped with hardware to measure oxygen levels, as well as software for setting, interpreting and displaying such values, together with other physical parameters already commonly controlled such as temperature, humidity, turning and CO2.

[0026] Because it works with high levels of oxygen concentration (always above 21%) , it is not necessary to exchange air (renew with fresh air) inside the machine as many times, whether it is an incubator or a hatcher. As a side effect of the reduced air exchange, the humidity and CO2 levels, produced by the embryonic metabolism inside the cabinet, may rise to undesirable levels. Therefore, it maybe necessary to add a dehumidification system and a CO2 adsorption system. Due to internal space issues, both may be located outside the incubator or hatcher cabinet, generally above or behind, in the area known as the exhaust plenum. The schematic drawing (Fig. 5) illustrates both processes.

[0027] For said dehumidification, the system should preferably be mounted outside, at the top or rear of the machine, and should be activated at a certain level of relative or absolute humidity (settable) . Part of the air from inside the incubator or hatcher cabinet is drawn into the dehumidification system activating the condensation coils. The moisture (water) that has already condensed is collected and drained out of the system, for example, into the exhaust plenum. The dehumidified air returns to the interior of the cabinet.

[0028] For CO2 adsorption, the system should preferably be mounted outside on the top or back of the machine, and should be activated with a certain level of CO2 (configurable) . Part of the air from inside the incubator or hatcher machine cabinet is drawn into the adsorption system, which will trigger the adsorption of CO2 by reaction with potassium hydroxide (KOH) , forming potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and water, such water will be drained out of the system, for example, into the exhaust plenum environment. CO2 adsorption can also be carried out by other means, such as soda lime, activated carbon, zeolite or another method that proves to be technically, environmentally and financially efficient. Regardless of the adsorption method, the air in which the CO2 has been captured returns to the interior of the incubator or hatcher cabinet.

[0029] Once the above mentioned is done, this is a device capable of receiving the method of the present invention, in other words, capable of having a hyperbaric atmosphere inside.

[0030] Using the method of this invention, in recent tests (between March 25 and May 20, 2024) , 445, 676 (four hundred and forty-five thousand, six hundred and seventy- six) f ertile / f ertilized eggs were incubated so that, in the end, on average in the tests showed only 13% (thirteen percent) mortality due to difficulty in hatching, while in an incubation without the application of the method, 432,927 (four hundred and thirty- two thousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven) fertile / fertilized eggs were incubated and the mortality was 17% (seventeen percent) , in other words, the application of the method thus ensured an improvement of 4% (four percent) in hatchability, that is, a reduction of 4% (four percent) in mortality. The results were analyzed statistically and represent significance in the Chi-Square proportional test at 95% reliability with a P-value of 0.000. In Brazilian hatcheries, the gains from extra hatching can be in the order of 2 to 4 million reais annually, in mediumcapacity industrial plants.TABLE 1 - TESTING RESULTS OF THE METHOD

[0031] In normal situations, embryos hatch on average 4% more in these hyperbaric environments. This median difference, based on the findings of 9 different replicates, that included eggs from different breeder batches, was subjected to statistical analysis, obtaining the confidence interval by Student's T distribution between 3 and 5% with 95% alpha.

[0032] In this way, the method has wide industrial applicability, as well as it is effective in solving the existing problem, significantly reducing embryo mortality.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Industrial incubation method of eggs with non- invasive application of oxygen therapy in modi fied hyperbaric atmosphere, characterized by performing a non- invasive oxygen inoculation, by applying oxygen therapy, in eggs during the incubation process , from diapause until the birds hatch, by exposing such eggs to a hyperbaric environment created inside the incubation cabinet .

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