Is 98.3 the ideal incubation temperature?

[Suki]

This abstract seems to think so.


http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/08/27/ps.pev239.abstract


Eggs of broilers were initially incubated at 37.8°C, then at 38.8°C (group H) and 36.8°C (group L) between embryonic days 7 to 10 (time A) and days 10 to 13 (time B) and further incubated at 37.8°C until hatching.


The chicks were fattened until day 35 and then slaughtered. The effect of treatment, time, and sex and their interactions on carcass and meat quality traits were determined. No significant impact of the “treatment time” was analysed, but “treatment” and “sex” and their interactions influenced (P < 0.05) the different parameters.


After hatching, group L broilers were heavier (P < 0.05), followed by slower growth compared to group H chicken. At slaughter day, body, carcass, and leg weights of group H broiler were higher (P < 0.05) and yielded results lower (P < 0.05) to  L animals.


pH, drip loss, shear force, and lightness values of group H broiler breast muscles were higher (P < 0.05) and grill loss and redness values were lower (P < 0.05) compared to group L Musculus pectoralis superficialis (MPS). Body, carcass, MPS, and leg weights, leg yields and grill loss and lightness values of the male broiler were higher (P < 0.05) and drip loss results lower (P < 0.05) than the female birds.

[Tailfeathers]

I try to keep mine at 99.8