Cold incubation period
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Cold Incubation Period: Effects on Development and Metabolism
Introduction to Cold Incubation Periods
Cold incubation periods, where embryos or eggs are exposed to lower temperatures for specific durations, have been studied across various species to understand their impact on development, metabolism, and overall health. This article synthesizes findings from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of cold incubation on different organisms.
Cold Incubation in Broiler Chickens: Metabolic and Antioxidant Pathways
Energy Metabolism and Antioxidant Pathways
Research on broiler chickens has shown that cyclically cold incubation temperatures can significantly affect energy metabolism and antioxidant pathways. For instance, reducing the incubation temperature by 1°C for 6 hours daily from days 10 to 18 of incubation led to increased hepatic catalase activity and altered gene expression related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress at hatch1. These changes suggest that cold incubation can enhance the long-term health of chickens, particularly under cold rearing conditions.
Postnatal Cold Acclimation
Further studies indicate that repeated acute cold exposures during the last phase of embryogenesis can improve posthatch cold tolerance and reduce the incidence of ascites syndrome in broilers. Exposing eggs to 15°C for 30 or 60 minutes during the final days of incubation resulted in better thermoregulation and higher body weights in treated chicks7. This suggests that strategic cold exposure during incubation can enhance the resilience of broilers to cold environments throughout their lifespan.
Cold Incubation in Insects: Development and Survival
Bactrocera zonata
In the case of the fruit fly Bactrocera zonata, cold incubation periods ranging from 1 to 15 days at 8°C were tested to determine their impact on development. It was found that while most cold treatments did not significantly affect the life cycle, a 9-day cold period reduced the population by half, and treatments from 13 to 15 days resulted in the highest survival rates2. This indicates that specific cold periods can optimize survival and development in this species.
Silkworms (Bombyx mori)
For the silkworm Bombyx mori, a study revealed that a short cold period of 18 days at 5°C was sufficient to terminate diapause, a developmental arrest stage, when followed by incubation at 25°C. This period was much shorter than the traditionally expected 100 days, highlighting the efficiency of cold in terminating diapause and suggesting a biochemical mechanism involving the activation of TIME-ATPase10.
Cold Incubation in Reptiles: Synchronization and Growth
Common Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)
Cold incubation also plays a crucial role in the development of reptile embryos. For example, common chameleon eggs incubated at 14°C for varying durations showed that longer cold periods resulted in longer total incubation times but shorter periods at higher temperatures (25°C). Eggs with intermediate cold periods produced the largest and heaviest hatchlings, indicating that cold torpor optimizes development and synchronizes hatching4.
Cold Incubation in Aquatic Species: Efficiency and Hatching
Austropotamobius pallipes
In the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, different cold periods during maternal incubation were tested. It was found that shorter cold periods (45 to 60 days) resulted in higher incubation efficiency and earlier hatching compared to longer cold periods (90 to 105 days)6. This suggests that controlled cold exposure can enhance hatching success and efficiency in aquatic species.
Conclusion
Cold incubation periods have diverse and significant effects on the development, metabolism, and survival of various species. From enhancing antioxidant pathways and energy metabolism in broiler chickens to optimizing development and synchronization in reptiles and insects, strategic cold exposure during incubation can lead to improved health and performance. Understanding these mechanisms can help in developing better incubation practices to enhance the resilience and efficiency of different organisms.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Exposure of embryos to cyclically cold incubation temperatures durably affects energy metabolism and antioxidant pathways in broiler chickens.
Cyclic cold incubation in broiler chickens leads to long-term changes in antioxidant pathways and energy metabolism, potentially enhancing their health under cold conditions.
RCT
Animal Study
Rigorous JournalThe effect of cold incubation on the development of Bactrocera zonata. (Saunders) stages under laboratory conditions
Cold incubation periods of 13-15 days result in the highest survival of Bactrocera zonata larvae, with the 9th day treatment producing half of the population.
A BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY OF "COLDS" ON AN ISOLATED TROPICAL ISLAND (ST. JOHN, UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, WEST INDIES
Colds are incited by an unknown agent, with secondary symptoms linked to nasopharynx-associated aerobic flora, and environmental factors, particularly reduced atmospheric temperature, influence the incidence of colds.
Effect of cold temperature on the length of incubation of Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Longer cold periods in incubation optimize development and growth of Common chameleon embryos, and synchronize hatching.
Low temperature effects on embryonic development and hatch time.
Cooled eggs lose more weight during incubation, chicks from cooled eggs are more susceptible to dehydration during holding, and have a longer incubation period, with greater embryonic mortality.
The effect of different cold period during maternal incubation on incubation efficiency and hatching term in Austropotamobius pallipes
Shorter cold periods during maternal incubation in Austropotamobius pallipes lead to higher incubation efficiency and hatching terms, with the highest efficiency found after the shortest cold period.
Effect of repetitive acute cold exposures during the last phase of broiler embryogenesis on cold resistance through the life span.
Repeated brief acute cold exposures during the last phase of broiler embryogenesis improve their ability to withstand low ambient temperatures throughout their life span, with fewer treated chickens developing ascites.
Rigorous JournalShort cold exposures during incubation and postnatal cold temperature affect performance, breast meat quality, and welfare parameters in broiler chickens
Short cold exposures during incubation and postnatal cold challenge negatively impact broiler chicken performance, breast meat quality, and welfare, with limited benefits for health and welfare.
Rigorous JournalPeriodical low eggshell temperatures during incubation and post hatch dietary arginine supplementation: Effects on performance and cold tolerance acquisition in broilers.
Periodical low eggshell temperatures during incubation improve hatchability, chick quality, and productive performance in broilers, while dietary arginine supplementation shows no beneficial effects in cold exposed broilers.
RCTAnimal StudyRigorous Journal