Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of carotenoid and vitamin A content in the egg yolk on the hatchability in game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). The birds were kept in 4 õ 5 m aviaries at sex ratio 1:5. Carotenoid concentrations in the egg yolk were 32,2–49 UI/g in April, 245,7-272,5 UI/g in May and 164,2–178,3 UI/g in June, while vitamin A concentrations were 164,2–178,3 UI/g in April, 262,5–292 UI/g in May and June. The egg hatchability was the lowest at the beginning of the reproductive period (April) – 57,54%, and the highest in the middle of May – 70,10%. The results showed that vitamin A and carotenoid contents of the egg yolk were not of paramount importance for the egg hatchability during the reproductive period.
Keywords: pheasant, egg hatchability, carotenoids, vitamin A.