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

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and ‘functional teratogenesis’: on

epigenetic mechanisms and

prevention of perinatally acquired

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Plagemann A. Perinatal

programming and functional

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regulation and obesity. Physiol

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Tona, K., O. M. Onagbesan, Y.

Jego, B. Kamers, E. Decuypere, and

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during incubation, chick quality, and

growth performance of three lines of

broiler breeders differing in genetic

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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

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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