Polychlorinated Biphenyls Influence on Hatchability ,

Abstract

Broiler breeder hens and Leghorn hens fed a diet containing 20 and 50 p.p.m. polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1242) for one week had their hatchability (percent hatch of eggs set) reduced to 67.3 and 26.8 percent, respectively, of control hens. The hatchability of the broiler hens fed 50 p.p.m. for two weeks was reduced to 21.9 percent of the control hens while that of Leghorn hens was reduced to zero. Hatchability was depressed by 20 p.p.m., but the time required to achieve the same depression as observed with 50 p.p.m. was doubled. Mortality was increased at all stages of embryonic development and particularly at the middle stage in comparison to the controls. No hydropericardium was observed, but ridges were apparent on the exterior of the right ventricle of treated embryos. The pattern of embryo mortality and the occurrence of the ventricular ridges would appear to be helpful in diagnosis.