Embryo Development and Hatchery Practice in Poultry Production

Dr Nick French is former Head of Technical Transfer at Aviagen, one of the world’s foremost poultry breeding companies. Over a career of nearly 40 years, Nick has been an incubation specialist for both Aviagen Chicken and Aviagen Turkeys before becoming Technical Director at Aviagen Turkeys and Global Head of Technical Transfer in Aviagen Chicken. He is a former Chairman of the Incubation and Fertility Research Group (IFRG), one of the Working Groups of the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA), and has published widely in the area of poultry embryo development and hatchery science. His distinguished contribution to both research and practice has been recognised in the Aviagen Nick French Award given to the best paper at the annual IFRG meeting.David Cavero Pintado obtained his Ph.D. from the Christian-Albrecht University in Kiel (Germany) in 2006. Since 2006, he has been working as a Geneticist and a member of the R&D Department at H&N International in Cuxhaven (Germany), one of the world’s leading layer breeding companies. In October 2016 he took the role of Chief Geneticist and leads the H&N layer breeding program. Dr. Marleen Boerjan has a background in ‘molecular sciences’ and specialized in all aspect of ‘Developmental Biology’ with the emphasis on vertebrate development. In her career she was appointed to ‘Wageningen University and Research’ and participated in several research projects related to ‘virology, cell biology, reproduction and embryo development in zoology mainly farm animals’. From November 2001 to December 2020, she was appointed as director R&D to Royal Pas Reform Integrated Hatchery Solutions. Dr. Christopher Williams serves as Director of Technical Service for Zoetis and holds Adjunct Professor roles at North Carolina State University and Mississippi State University. In his current role at Zoetis, Chris supports the veterinary services team to optimize in ovo devices and vaccine applications in the United States. He has received ten patents for novel in ovo concepts, hatching egg sanitation and embryo viability detection. He has contributed to and authored more than 75 articles and studies in trade journals and publications. Dr. Ing. Ron Meijerhof received his PhD from Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands. He worked for 13 years at the Centre for Applied Poultry Research in The Netherlands, before establishing Poultry Performance Plus - a consultancy company. Dr. Edgar O. Oviedo-Rondón is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University. He received his Veterinary degree from the University of Tolima in Colombia. Edgar obtained his M.S. in Animal Nutrition and Production in Brazil at the State University of Maringa, Ph.D. in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas, and in 2018 an MBA from NC State University. Dr. Oviedo has experience in the poultry industry as a Veterinarian, Nutritionist, Extension Specialist, and Consultant in 32 countries. Dr. Oviedo is author or co-author of 101 peer-review publications in Scientific Journals, 320 Proceedings of International Meetings, 302 abstracts of presentations in Scientific Meetings of National and International level, 97 popular press articles, 10 book chapters and 4 books. Dr Henry van den Brand is an Associate Professor of the Adaptation Physiology Group at Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. His research is mainly focused on the early life of poultry, with special interest in incubation, early nutrition and thermoregulation. The aim of his research is to improve or maintain poultry health, welfare and resilience. Dr Van den Brand is also a contributor of our previously published title Embryo development and hatchery practice in poultry production (published in 2023).

“Over the last 20 years in particular, research and development in the field of poultry incubation has produced numerous new findings…It was therefore time for a reference work and textbook that provides an overview of the current state of hatchery practice and scientific knowledge on embryonic development for all those working, teaching and learning in this field…The editor of the book is Nick French, an internationally highly recognised scientist and practitioner in the field of poultry breeding, which in turn guarantees a close link between research and practice. Embryo development and hatchery practice in poultry production will fill a gap in this field and provide practitioners, researchers and students with an up-to-date reference work.” (Book Review Published in European Poultry Science – Dr Barbara Tzschentke, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany)“The one thing that really struck me about this book was the calibre of the editorial team and the international range and expertise of the contributing editors and authors. With over 550 pages this book is well worth its place on the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in poultry breeding and genomics.” (International Hatchery Practice)

• Part 1 Parental influences and embryo development1. Genetic selection to improve reproductive traits in chickens: David Cavero and Maurice Raccoursier, H&N International, Germany;2. Managing breeder poultry flocks to optimise hatchability and chick health: R. A. van Emous, Wageningen Livestock Research, The Netherlands;3. Advances in understanding the development of defences against pathogens in the chicken egg: Maureen M. Bain, University of Glasgow, UK;4. Assessing poultry semen quality: Murray R. Bakst, formerly USDA-ARS, USA;5. Key stages of embryo development in poultry: Marleen Boerjan, formerly R&D Royal PasReform, The Netherlands;6. Chicken egg storage and transport: Dinah Nicholson, Aviagen Ltd, UK;7. In ovo sexing in poultry chicks: Anke Förster, Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH, Germany; and Thomas Bartels, Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Germany;8. In ovo vaccination of chicken eggs: Christopher J. Williams, Consultant, USA;Part 2 Incubation9. Incubator design for poultry eggs: principles and techniques: Ron Meijerhof, Poultry Performance Plus, The Netherlands;10. Understanding the effects of incubator temperature on embryo and post-hatch chick development: R. Michael Hulet, Penn State University, USA; and Michael J. Wineland, North Carolina State University, USA;11. Understanding the effects of light on embryo and post-hatch chick development: Israel Rozenboim, Liron Dishon, Natalie Avital-Cohen and Joanna Bartman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; and Ronen Shviki, BeyondEdge Inc, USA;12. Understanding the effects of humidity/air composition on embryo and post-hatch chick development: E. David Peebles, Mississippi State University, USA;13. The role of egg turning in embryo development: Okan Elibol, Ankara University, Turkey;14. Poultry embryo development and skeletal growth: Edgar Orlando Oviedo-Rondón, North Carolina State University, USA;Part 3 Managing the hatching stage15. Managing the poultry hatcher environment: Roos Molenaar and Henry van den Brand, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;16. Alternative hatching systems for broilers: Henry van den Brand, Bas Kemp and Roos Molenaar, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;17. Key issues in transportation of broiler and layer chicks: M. A. Mitchell, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), UK;