Post on 28-Jan-2016
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The Effect of Music Stimulation in the Hatching Time
and Physical Attributes of Duck (Anas platyrynchos) Embryo
Renzo Val Agapito, Harvey Alvarez, Edzen Aquino, John Carlo Azul, Rommuel Apollo, Herbert Billones,
Veronica Capitle, Miguel Chua, Lizette Cruz, and Mary Edest Coo
Biology Student, Department of Biology, College of Science, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Abstract
Sound as a stimulus affects the embryo physiologically and biologically with its intensity,
frequency and rhythmicity. In hatching duck embryo, two musical genres, rock and classical
music were used as stimuli to determine the effect on the hatching time and physical attributes of
the duck (Anas platyrynchos) eggs. The eggs were incubated and exposed to the aforementioned
musical genre until hatching and data were obtained. Rock music stimulated egg showed
significant difference in terms of the length, weight and hatching time of the eggs while classical
music stimulated egg have showed minor effect as compared with the controlled set-up. From
the data obtained, stimulation of music on duck eggs has lengthen the hatching time of the duck
eggs and affect the physical attributes of the embryo depending on the exposure to varying
musical frequency.
Keywords: Sound stimulus, hatching, duck embryo, frequency
Introduction
Sound acts as a stimulus for many
biological systems and has profound
physiological effects. Certain properties of
sound determine its efficacy in eliciting
these responses, which includes intensity,
frequency and rhythmicity. Of all these
physical properties, rhythmicity is
historically considered the most
physiologically arousing factor (Gaston
1951).
Embryonic growth and development
is influenced by both endogenous and
exogenous factors. The hatchability of eggs
in the incubator is also affected by several
factors. (Tona et al. 2003). The major impact
of environmental conditions for later
development and performance in poultry is
more and more accepted. Especially during
‘critical periods’ the effect of the actual
environment is long-lasting and may be even
passed on the succeeding generations in an
epigenetic fashion (Plagemann, 2004;
Tzschentke and Plagemann, 2006).
Physiological mechanisms are well
developed during hatching time of duck
embryo. The hearing begins at an early
stage, though the response to sound and
frequency selectively occurs on day 15 of
embryonic development. Many studies have
shown influential effect of any form of
music to the cognitive performances of
avian species, specifically chickens.
(Toukhsati and Rickard 2001)
The present study aims to determine
the effect of music stimulation, specifically
rock music and classical music in the
hatching time and in the physical attributes
of the developing embryo or chick.
Methodology
Egg Collection
4-day old fertilized eggs of duck
(Anas platyrynchos) weighing between 50
and 60 g were obtained from a registered
poultry farm in Cainta, Rizal.
Incubation
The eggs were incubated at 37ºC
(36º to 38ºC) temperature, 60-70% relative
humidity and at 12:12 light-dark cycle in a
handmade incubator as perceived in the
prototype model of double insulated egg
incubator (Widson Scientific Works Ltd.,
New Delhi). The incubator had a forced
draft of air for aeration and uniform
circulation of temperature and humidity
After procurement, the fertilized
eggs were divided into three main groups:
1. Control – incubated without any
auditory stimulation
2. Rock music – incubated with
music frequency ranging from
800-1600 Hz
3. Classical music – incubated with
music frequency ranging from
130-520 Hz
Music Stimulation
Stimulation of sound experimental
paradigm was followed as described by Jain
et. al. (2004).
Rock and classical music with
frequency ranging from 800-1600 Hz and
130-520 Hz respectively were first provided
as auditory stimulus in the embryo with
constant turning of eggs for every 8 hours
(24 h after the start of incubation was
considered as day 5 of incubation) until
hatching.
The music was played over a period
of 24 h for 15 min in each hour. This was
achieved through two built in speakers
connected to a stereo sound system.
To ensure that the embryos received
the auditory stimuli, a portion of the shell
(approx. 2 mm in diameter) over the air sac
of each egg from both the groups was
removed carefully on day 9.5 of incubation
without disturbing the underlying
membranes.
The length and weight of the ducks
that hatched on day 28 of incubation were
measured. The unhatched eggs were opened
up to determine likewise the length and
weight of the embryo.
Results
After 28 days of incubation, the egg
under no sound stimulus was hatched and
the length and weight of duck was
measured, 10.25 cm and 65.73 g
respectively. For the rock music stimulated
duck egg, the length of the embryo
measured 8.56 cm and 60. 26 g in weight,
while for the classical music stimulated duck
egg, 10.02 cm length and 64.98 g were
measured.
Table 1. Physical Attributes of Duck Embryo with Different Music Stimulus after 28 days
Group Length Weight
Control 10.25 cm 65.73 g
Rock
music
8.56 cm 60.28 g
Classical
music
10.02 cm 64.98 g
Discussions
After the physical attributes (length
and weight) of the chicks were measured,
results showed that the chicks exposed to
rock music exhibited significant difference
to the control setup, while classical music
did not.
A study by Gaston et. al shows that
vibration frequency greatly affects the
embryonic development and even mortality
of an avian environment on exposure of
1000 Hz, making it a teratogen to chicken
eggs. Congenital syndromes such as longer
hatching time, undeveloped eye, crossed
beak, lighter weight of chicken embryo were
observed after exposure to 800 Hz. In this
study, the rock music used has a vibration
frequency of 830-1300 Hz; eggs exposed in
this setup took a longer time to hatch,
embryos had a lighter weight and shorter
length compared to the chicken embryos in
the control setup.
According to Plaggerman, chronic
exposure to low frequency (LF) noise and
high vibration frequency (VF) induces both
physiological and psychological alterations
in quail. Recently, long-term exposure to
LF noise and WBV produces genotoxic
effects in quail expressed as an increase in
genetic variations.
Conclusion
Stimulation of music on duck eggs
has an effect on the physical attributes and
therefore disturbs the avian environment
even its hatchability. Rock music when
stimulated to duck eggs resulted longer
hatching time, lessened weight and
decreased length. On the other hand,
classical music when stimulated to duck
eggs did not cause great difference on the
physical attributes of embryo in comparison
with the control set-up. Furthermore,
exposure to music whether rock music or
classical music extend the hatching time of
the duck eggs.
Recommendation
After concluding the study, it is
recommended to have a longer duration of
incubation in order to come up with a better
result and comparison. Future researchers
may also conduct the experiment with other
species (e.g chicken eggs) that has shorter
hatching time. For further comparison of
data, other genre of music may be used in
varying tempo and loudness.
References
Gaston et.al (1951). Dynamic music
factors in mood change. Music Educ.
J. 37 42–43
Jain S., Sharma R. and Wadhwa S.
(2004). Effect of prenatal species
specific and music stimulation on the
postnatal auditory preference of
domestic chick. Indian J. Physiol.
Pharmacol. 48 174–183
Plagemann A. ‘Fetal programming’
and ‘functional teratogenesis’: on
epigenetic mechanisms and
prevention of perinatally acquired
lasting health risks. J Perinat Med.
2004;32:297–305. [PubMed]
Plagemann A. Perinatal
programming and functional
teratogenesis: impact on body weight
regulation and obesity. Physiol
Behav. 2005;86:661–668. [PubMed]
Tona, K., O. M. Onagbesan, Y.
Jego, B. Kamers, E. Decuypere, and
V. Bruggeman. 2004. Comparison of
embryo physiological parameters
during incubation, chick quality, and
growth performance of three lines of
broiler breeders differing in genetic
composition and growth rate. Poult.
Sci. 83:507–513.
Toukhsati SR and Rickard NS 2001
Exposure to a rhythmic auditory
stimulus facilitates memory
formation for the passive avoidance
task in the day-old chick. J. Comp.
Psychol. 115 132– 139.
Tzschentke, B., and A. Plagemann.
2006. Imprinting and critical periods
in early development. World’s Poult.
Sci. J. 62:626–637.
APPENDICES
Figure 1. 28-day old Hatched Duck
Figure 2. 28-day old Embryo exposed to Classical Music
Figure 3. 28-day old Embryo exposed to Rock Music