The hatching egg module of the Broiler Chicken Supply Chain Model was officially released in 2005. This economic analysis tool has been valuable in determining the economic consequences of the types of management decisions we recommend based on research. This type of thinking has also made it much easier for us to generate an economic impact result on many of our current research findings. For example, one of the papers mentioned above deals entirely with the economics of strain, feed allocation and photostimulation age decisions. A reliable method for analyzing embryonic metabolism has been developed and the equipment is continuing to be refined. The recent successful equipment grant from NSERC has enabled the purchase of an oxygen analyzer to be added. In the past, only carbon dioxide produced could be measured from the embryos and oxygen consumption had to be calculated based on a “best guess� respiratory quotient�. With the addition of the oxygen analyzer the respiratory quotient of modern strains can be established. (Fasenko, Hamidu) With on-farm food safety (HACCP type) programs being implemented, research was needed to determine the effectiveness of current poultry industry cleaning and disinfection procedures in broiler barns. Results showed that there were more total aerobic bacteria recovered from barn corners, which demonstrates why producers must concentrate their cleaning efforts on particular areas in the barns. In commercial barns, litter removal and litter removal plus washing significant impact on levels of pathogenic bacteria. Data obtained also showed that certain disinfectants have a greater effectiveness on bacteria when diligent cleaning is performed prior to their application. This research clearly showed that barn sanitation is a multi-step process with each step playing a crucial role in bacterial reduction. (Fasenko, McMullen, Ward) Vitamin E can positively affect egg production and egg quality and may provide protection from oxidative damage from dietary sources. Laying hens were provided NRC levels or enriched levels of Vitamin E in their feed and were provided either standard canola oil or used fryer oil (as an oxidative challenge). Results from our study showed that layers fed with a high oxidative diet had lower intestinal calcium uptake and lower total egg production than the group of bird receiving canola oil. The feed intake, egg weight, egg shell thickness and egg shell weight were higher for the canola-low vitamin E and restaurant grease-high vitamin E groups. These results may indicate that higher levels of vitamin E were able to enhance reproduction ability of the birds by increasing relative ovary and reproductive tract weight but not sufficient to protect the birds from the higher load of oxidative reactive substances. (D. Franco, R. Renema, F. Robinson) Males in a commercial broiler breeder operation were monitored from hatch through to the end of the breeder period to assess links between chick quality and subsequent growth traits on potential success / survival in the breeder barn. Hatch weight was a poor measure of growth potential to 4 wk of age, although by 4 wk of age BW correlated strongly with all subsequent weights (to 18 wk of age). While variation in BW was uniform throughout growth, individual growth varied widely. The CV for relative gains ranged from a low of 17.2 % in the 4 to 8 wk period to a high of 41.0 % in the 16 to 18 wk period. Males that died during the study had a 5% lower growth trajectory at 4 wk of age as compared to males which survived past 38 wk. Growth profile during rearing appears to have a role in determining which males will survive in the breeder barn. (Robinson, Renema, Zuidhof, Wolanski) Broiler breeder sensitivity to protein level during various phases of the rearing period was examined. For one of four 6-wk periods (1 to 6, 7 to 12, 13 to 18, or 19 to 24 wk of age), dietary balanced protein (DBP) level was increased (HIGH) or decreased (LOW) by 3%, or held (STANDARD). Carcass and reproductive traits at the onset of egg production were examined. Overall, frame, age at first egg, and large yellow follicle counts were not affected by DBP during
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