scholarly journals Effect of Housing System on Egg Quality in Laying Hens

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Lewko ◽  
Ewa Gornowicz

Effect of Housing System on Egg Quality in Laying HensThe aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of eggs from hybrids of laying hens of selected Polish breeding strains depending on their housing system. Analysis was made of eggs from KA-62, KA-42, KA-68 and KA-48 hybrids housed in three systems: cage, litter and free range. One hundred eggs, randomly chosen from each experimental group between 34 and 36 weeks of age, were evaluated for a set of physical characteristics such as weight of egg and egg fraction, percentage of main egg fractions, egg shape index, air cell height, albumen height and pH, Haugh units, yolk colour and pH, as well as shell colour, thickness, density and deformation. Caged birds produced the heaviest eggs (61.06 g) with the lowest shape index (77.86%), lightest shell (39.86) and highest percentage of albumen (57.04%) and yolk (29.89%) in the egg. The most favourable quality traits of albumen from the analysed eggs, i.e. greatest height (5.00 mm) and Haugh units (69.70) were characteristic of egg albumen from hens raised on litter. Shell quality analysis showed that the eggs of free-range birds were characterized by the highest weight of shell (5.76 g), which had the greatest thickness (360.14 μm) and density (81.01 mg/cm2). Detailed analysis of the physical characteristics of eggs from the hybrids of laying hens revealed significant (P≤0.05) differences depending on the housing system. The eggs of caged layers showed many characteristics desired by processors. Meanwhile, the eggs of hens kept on litter were characterized by dietetic properties that could meet specific needs of the consumers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 1553 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Diarra ◽  
I. Wamekeni ◽  
A. Vunagilee ◽  
H. Lavaka ◽  
T. Finau

The effects of peeling and limestone flour level on the utilisation of Alocasia macrorrhiza corm meal (ACM) by laying hens were investigated. Maize-based diets with two concentrations of limestone flour (40 and 60 g/kg) and diets containing 200 g peeled and unpeeled ACM meal/kg with the same levels of limestone flour were fed to five replicate pens containing 10 20-week-old Shaver brown pullets (1635 ± 148 g), each for 105 days. Results showed no interaction or main effects of ACM or limestone concentration on feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency, egg shape index, surface area and Haugh unit (P > 0.05). Feeding whole ACM with 40 g limestone/kg diet reduced hen-day production and shell thickness (P < 0.05) but this was overcome by increasing limestone concentration to 60 g/kg diet. Peeled ACM with both concentrations of limestone flour maintained laying performance and egg quality. We concluded that feeding 200 g whole ACM depresses egg production and shell quality in laying hens, but increasing dietary limestone concentration overcomes this adverse effect. The concentration of limestone flour in the diet has no effect on laying performance. Higher inclusion levels of ACM, calcium source and level that will maintain laying performance and reduce feed cost need to be investigated.


Author(s):  
Adam Kraus ◽  
Lukáš Zita

The aim was to assess the internal and external quality of consumer eggs of egg‑laying hens of two selected genotypes depending on their age. All of these hens were kept in enriched cages. There were compared eggs from Hy‑Line Brown and ISA Brown hens at the age from 36 to 64 weeks. In total, 3840 eggs from 300 hens were evaluated. Quality of eggs was determined by their technological value. Statistically significant interactions (P = 0.001) between age and genotype were found in all evaluated parameters except for the yolk colour (P = 0.044), whereas there was not found interaction (P = 0.072) between age and genotype in eggshell strength. The significant effect of hens’ age was found in all evaluated parameters, with the only exception of the yolk colour. The results showed that the average weight of eggs, eggshell, albumen and yolk increased with the age. Also the eggshell proportion, its colour and yolk index values ​​increased, whereas the egg shape index, eggshell thickness and strength, albumen proportion, Haugh units, the albumen and the yolk index decreased. Statistically significant effect of the genotype was found in all evaluated parameters except for the yolk index. When comparing both genotypes, the eggs from ISA Brown hens had a better quality. The trend of deteriorating egg quality with age was confirmed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Sokołowicz ◽  
Józefa Krawczyk ◽  
Magdalena Dykiel

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of the type of alternative housing system, and genotype and age of laying hens on physical traits of egg shell and contents. It was demonstrated that alternative housing system type influenced egg weight and shape, and eggshell color and yolk color intensity. Eggs from free-range system were heavier and were characterized by more intense yolk color. No effect of alternative housing system type on albumen height, value of Haugh units (HU value) and presence of meat and blood spots was noted. Hen genotype had a significant effect on egg weight and eggshell color intensity in each of the alternative housing systems tested in this study. Hy-line Brown hens laid heavier eggs than hens of native breeds. Genotype was also observed to affect egg content traits (albumen height, HU values and presence of meat and blood spots). Independently of the type of alternative housing system, most blood and meat spots were noted in eggs of hens laying brown-shelled eggs, i.e. R-11 and Hy-line Brown layers. Laying hen age significantly impacted on egg weight, yolk percentage, eggshell traits (color intensity, weight, thickness and strength) and egg content traits (HU value, yolk weight and color intensity, presence of meat and blood spots). Older hens laid heavier eggs with a greater yolk percentage but with thinner eggshell.


2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kumar ◽  
C. Raginski ◽  
K. Schwean-Lardner ◽  
H.L. Classen

Ideally balanced dietary protein is critical for laying hen egg production and feed efficiency, but also affects other important characteristics. This research was designed to study the nonegg production and feed intake response of Lohmann-LSL Lite hens to 550, 625, 700, 775, and 850 mg d−1 of amino acid balanced digestible lysine (Dlys) from 27 to 66 wk of age. Data collection included hen weight (HW), feather scoring, tissue weights, egg specific gravity, egg component weights, and excreta nitrogen (N) content. The experiment was a completely randomized design and level of significance was fixed at P ≤ 0.05. Hen weight (quadratic, Q), pectoralis muscle (absolute, % – Q), and abdominal fat (absolute – linear, L; % – Q) increased with increasing Dlys intake. Although gastrointestinal segment weights and lengths were affected by Dlys intake, interpretation of results was confounded by other aspects of diet composition. Hen feather score (L) and excreta N content (Q) increased, and egg shell quality (L) decreased with increasing Dlys intake. Absolute egg component weights increased with Dlys intake, but effects on proportional weights were Q and relatively minor. In conclusion, balanced Dlys intake affected a variety of practical nonproduction characteristics in laying hens.


animal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Bari ◽  
A.M. Cohen-Barnhouse ◽  
D.L.M. Campbell

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-190
Author(s):  
Zdenka Skrbic ◽  
Milos Lukic ◽  
Veselin Petricevic ◽  
Snezana Bogosavljevic-Boskovic ◽  
Simeon Rakonjac ◽  
...  

The comparison of physical quality properties of table eggs of commercial hybrid Tetra SL and two native indigenous breeds of hens, Banat Naked Neck and Svrljig hen, was performed in conditions of alternative production in the pasture system in portable cages without the floor. The experiment was conducted during the vegetation period, at the age of hens of 53-57 weeks. In order to produce good quality eggs, the diet was designed with a complete mixture based on maize and soybean. In addition, constant availability of pastures was ensured. Egg sampling was performed in the morning and the initial egg quality was examined based on egg weight, shape index, egg white, egg yolk and shell quality parameters. Layer hens of the commercial hybrid Tetra SL had significantly higher egg weight and better internal egg quality (p<0.01) compared to hens of Banat Naked Neck and Svrljig hens, except for the colour of the yolk, which was more intense in the same feeding and breeding conditions and the age of laying hens, in eggs of native breeds (p<0.01). Native breeds in relation to the commercial hybrid had lighter shell colour (p<0.01). Deformation and egg shell thickness differed (p<0.01) between all three genotypes. The determined rank of layer hen genotypes for shell thickness was: Tetra SL, Banat Naked Neck, Svrljig hen. However, the breaking force was without statistically confirmed difference between hen genotypes.


Author(s):  
İsmail Türker ◽  
Sezai Alkan ◽  
Serpil Akçay

This research was carried out under producer conditions to determine the appropriate hen material to be used in the free range laying system. For this purpose, the foreign brown commercial layer genotype which coded YB and native brown egg layer Atak-S genotype was compared in terms of yield and egg quality characteristics. This study included 150 hens from each genotype and a total of 300 chickens were used. Each genotype divided into three groups among themselves and 50 hens were raised each group. In the poultry house with deep-litter ground system, 5 chickens were raised in the unit area (m2) and, 4 m2 grazing area was allocated per each hen in the grazing area. The pullets that hatched on the same day were obtained from a commercial firm at 16 weeks of age. The study was carried out until 80 weeks of age. Egg yield and egg quality characteristics were determined during this period. There was no difference between the genotypes in terms of 50% egg yield age, egg weight, hen-day egg yield, hen-house egg yield, viability, albumen index, yolk index, haugh unit and yolk color. In contrast, the difference between the genotypes was found to be important in terms of body weight at weeks of 18th and 80th age, feed consumption, feed conversation ratio, shape index, shell thickness, density, meat-blood spot ratio and egg shell color. In this study, genotypes were not superior to each other in terms of all traits. However, as a result of the economic analyzes made in consideration of market conditions and observations made in terms of animal sensitivities, it was concluded that the Atak-S genotype was more suitable for free-range egg production system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (05) ◽  
pp. 1002-1006
Author(s):  
Li Chang

In this research, we made a comprehensive study about the egg quality and nutrient factors of Bashang long-tailed chickens in different housing systems (in-cage and free-range). The results showed that: 1) there was no significant difference in egg weight, egg shape index, egg yolk weight, egg yolk color, egg yolk ratio, egg white ratio, and Hahn unit between free-range and cage (P > 0.05). Protein weight, protein height, eggshell weight, eggshell color and eggshell ratio were significantly higher in the cage than in free-range (P < 0.05) and the differences in eggshell weight, eggshell color, and eggshell ratio were extremely significant (P < 0.01). However, the thickness and strength of eggshell in free-range breeding were significantly higher than those caged (P < 0.05). 2) The content of water and crude protein in the eggs of the caged Bashang long-tail chicken was significantly higher than that of the free-range chicken (P < 0.05). 3) The content of crude fat content of free-range was significantly higher than that of caged chickens (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in cholesterol and vitamin A content. 4) Zinc content of eggs of Bashang long-tail chickens of free-range was significantly higher than that of caged chickens (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the content of calcium and phosphorus. So it’s better than the caged chicken in the free-range feeding condition, and the free-range feeding is suitable for the production of Bashang long-tail chicken. This study could be used as a reference to improve egg quality in the future. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
A. C. Esiegwu ◽  
O. O. Emenalom ◽  
G. E. Enyenihi ◽  
I. C. Okoli ◽  
A. B. I. Udedibie

Effects of dietary Garcinia kola meal (bitter kola) on the performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens were investigated. Four layers diets were made such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola meal while diets T2.5, T5.0 and T7.5 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola meal, respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 laying hens at 30 weeks of laying life for 84 days, using completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further sub-divided into three replicates of 10 hens each. The layers on T2.5 and T5.0 diets added significantly (P < 0.05) less body weight than those on T0 and T7.5 diets. There were no significant differences in their feed intake (P > 0.05). T2.5 significantly (P < 0.05) depressed hen-day egg production but enhanced egg weight. Feed conversion ratio (g feed/ g egg) was not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg quality indices (egg shape index, egg specific gravity, Haugh unit, egg shell thickness, albumen index and yolk index) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg shell index was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by Garcinia kola meal. At 2.5% level, it significantly enhanced percent albumin and reduced percent yolk (P<0.05). Cost of egg production (N/kg eggs) was adversely increased as the level of Garcinia kola meal increased.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document