Comparative field evaluations of in ovo applied technology

Mass vaccination of poultry has advanced in recent years with field application of in ovo vaccination technologies in hatcheries worldwide. Working from a laboratory concept to a commercially available system within a matter of a decade, with subsequent full application to 90% of US broiler production a few years later, the commercial systems continue to be an area for study and continued understanding. Within the production setting, 2 methods to evaluate the types of equipment available for this technology were evaluated in this research. Utilizing a whole hatchery approach and paired testing in a field setting allowed for direct comparison of the 2 US-manufactured in ovo systems (Embrex Inovoject System and Intelliject). The results of the whole hatchery study showed an advantage for 1 system at d 18 and 19 transfer, with the Embrex Inovoject System showing as much as a 2.32% advantage in percentage of hatch. Paired testing showed a statistical difference in percentage of hatchability at d 18 of transfer favoring the Embrex Inovoject System but no difference at d 19 transfer. Differences in the 2 systems were additionally evaluated in terms of day of transfer and flock age.