scholarly journals Interaction between housing system and genotype in relation to internal and external egg quality parameters

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 490-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tůmová ◽  
M. Englmaierová ◽  
Z. Ledvinka ◽  
V. Charvátová

The effect of three housing systems (conventional cages, enriched cages and litter) on egg quality parameters was evaluated in two experiments with four brown laying strains ISA Brown, Hisex Brown, Bovans Brown and Moravia BSL. During 40 weeks of lay the total number of 7200 eggs was produced and analysed for egg weight, egg component weight and eggshell quality indicators. In 60 eggs, pore density in the small-end, large-end and equatorial areas was determined. Significant interactions between genotype and housing were found out in egg weight (P ≤ 0.001), yolk and albumen weight (P ≤ 0.001) and yolk colour (P ≤ 0.001). Haugh units were the highest in eggs laid in cages and the lowest in the ISA Brown strain. Eggshell quality indicators were affected more by genotype than by housing. The interaction between genotype and housing was not significant for eggshell thickness but it was significant for eggshell weight and strength. Although eggshell thickness was lower in eggs produced in cages, eggshell strength was higher. A significant negative correlation was found out between pore density and housing system. Results of the study suggest that the ability of a strain to produce eggs of high quality in a particular housing system should be considered, even within brown strains.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ketta ◽  
E. Tumova

The objective of the present study was to compare the eggshell characteristics and cuticle deposition of Lohmann Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown, and Isa Brown layers kept in two different housing systems. The three laying hen genotypes were housed in enriched cages (100 hens, 750 cm<sup>2</sup>/hen, 10 hens/cage) and in littered pens (100 hens, 9 hens/m<sup>2</sup>, 10 hens/pen). The experiment was carried out in weeks 40–56 of hens age. Non-significant interactions of genotype and housing system for eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition were detected in this study. Egg weight was significantly affected by genotype (P ≤ 0.001) and housing system (P ≤ 0.043). The heaviest eggs were laid by Lohmann Brown, while the lightest eggs were produced by Hy-Line Silver Brown. Eggshell strength was not affected by genotype and housing system, however, genotype had a significant effect on eggshell thickness (P ≤ 0.033). Isa Brown eggs had thicker eggshells compared to Lohmann Brown and Hy-Line Silver Brown. However, a non-significant effect of housing system on eggshell thickness was observed. Eggshell percentage was significantly affected by both genotype and housing system. Genotype of laying hens had a significant effect on cuticle deposition; significantly higher cuticle deposition was observed in Lohmann Brown eggs (P ≤ 0.001). It could be concluded that genotype had a significant effect on eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition. However, the housing system effect was less important in these characteristics.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 129-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tůmová ◽  
T. Ebeid

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the time of oviposition on egg quality characteristics in two different housing systems (cages vs. litter). ISA brown hens from 20 to 64 weeks of age were housed in battery cages (550 cm<sup>2</sup>/hen, 19 526 laying hens in the house) and on deep litter (7 hen/m<sup>2</sup>, 4 652 laying hens in the house). In both houses, eggs were collected daily at three oviposition times 06:00, 10:00 and 14:00 h. Every four weeks, 90 eggs for each house (30 eggs for each oviposition time) were used for egg quality assessment. The results indicated that in cages the highest percentages (P &le; 0.001) of normal (74.47%), non-standard (0.85%) and cracked (1.80%) eggs were laid in the early morning (06:00 h). On deep litter, however, the highest percentages (P &le; 0.05) of normal sound eggs were produced at10:00 h (35.43%) and at14:00 h (33.03%). In the cage system, the heaviest eggs (63.01 g) were laid in the early morning (06:00 h) and the highest shell percentage (10.33%) was in eggs laid in the afternoon and also at 10:00 h (10.31%). On the other hand, in the litter housing system, the time of oviposition had no significant effect on egg weight and eggshell quality characteristics except for shell thickness. Morning eggs had greater shell thickness (0.398 mm) than afternoon eggs (0.390 mm). In cages and on litter, statistically significant differences in albumen height, albumen index and Haugh Units were observed between early morning eggs and afternoon eggs and data showed a pattern of relatively higher albumen quality for eggs collected in the afternoon in both systems. &nbsp;


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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Zita ◽  
Eva Tůmová ◽  
Ladislav Štolc

The experiment compared the effects of strain and age on egg quality characteristics in ISA Brown, Hisex Brown and Moravia BSL brown-egg laying hens. One hundred and eight ISA Brown hens, forty-five Hisex Brown and forty-five Moravia BSL 20 to 60 weeks old were housed in conventional cages (550 cm2 per hen). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Eggs were sampled at 21-day intervals, every collecting week 150 eggs per genotype in three age periods, from 20 to 26 weeks, 37 to 43 weeks and 54 to 60 weeks of age. A total of 4,050 eggs were examined. Egg quality characteristics were affected by genotype and age. Egg weight, yolk weight and percentage, Haugh Units increased with the hens’ age in all genotypes, but albumen and eggshell percentage decreased, eggshell thickness and strength improved with age. The highest egg weight (65.3 g) and yolk quality (yolk index 45.1%) were found in Moravia BSL at the end of the experiment. In contrast, the best albumen quality (albumen percentage 60.0) values were in Hisex Brown and the eggshell quality measurements (eggshell thickness 0.38 mm) were higher in ISA Brown.


2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Scholz ◽  
S. Rönchen ◽  
H. Hamann ◽  
C. Sürie ◽  
U. Neumann ◽  
...  

Abstract. The objective of the study was to assess bone breaking strength, keel bone status and egg quality parameters of Lohmann Silver (LS) and Lohmann Tradition (LT) layers housed in small group systems (SG) and furnished cages (FC) in comparison to an aviary system. At the end of the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th laying month, approximately 40 hens were randomly chosen from each housing system and slaughtered (478 hens in total). Humerus and tibia strengths were analysed using a three-point-bending machine. Keel bone status was evaluated on a scale from 1 (severe) to 4 (no deformity). Shell breaking strength was measured every four weeks, totalling 4,887 eggs. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Humerus and tibia strengths of LS layers housed in SG were significantly higher compared to LS hens kept in FC. Bone breaking strengths of humerus and tibia in LS and LT layers were highest in the aviary system and the differences to the other housing systems were significant. No significant differences in tibia and humerus bone breaking strengths were found between SG and FC for LT hens. Keel bone status was not significantly influenced by housing system or laying strain. For both hybrids, shell breaking strength was significantly lower in SG compared to FC and aviary system. The results showed that SG systems can significantly enhance bone breaking strength for LS layers in comparison to hens kept in FC. The lower shell breaking strength of eggs in SG might slightly impair economic aspects.


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 162-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lichovníková ◽  
L. Zeman

The effects of housing systems on the calcium requirement for eggshell production, eggshell quality and on the breaking strength of the hen’s tibia were evaluated. Unenriched cages (UN) (24 laying hens), enriched cages (EN) (16 laying hens) and floor system (FS) (24 laying hens) were used in this experiment. The eggshell production of laying hens from 19 to 66 weeks of age was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01) in the cage systems (UN 39.6 g/hen/week and EN 39.2 g/hen/week) than it was in FS (35.0 g/hen/week). Consequently, the amount of calcium deposited in the eggshells (g/hen/week) was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01) in the cage systems (14.2 and 14.0 g/hen/week) than in FS (12.6 g/hen/week). Despite of the same calcium intake of the hens housed in EN and FS the eggshell thickness (0.39 and 0.38 mm, respectively) and eggshell strength (38.04 and 36.43 N respect.) were higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01 and <I>P</I> < 0.001 respectively) in EN. The tibia breaking strength was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.05) in FS (156.6 N) in comparison with UN (92.7 N). The rate of calcium intake deposited in the eggshells was higher in the cage systems than in FS, namely by 1.7 to 8.9% depending on the age of laying hens. When determining the correct calcium requirements in the diets of laying hens, the housing system should be taken into account.


2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1649-1658 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kocevski ◽  
N. Nikolova ◽  
A. Kuzelov

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of strain and age on some egg quality parameters (egg weight and egg shell strength) of commercial laying hens. Layers of lines ISA Brown and DeKalb White were examined in period of nine months. Both lines were at same age (28 weeks) and were confined in common facility in battery cages. Laying hens were reared and fed according to standard breeding technology. Once a month 25 eggs of each line were taken to be examined for eggshell strength and egg weight, or in other words, total 450 table eggs were tested. Analises were done in Laboratory for testing egg quality by gaudges Egg Multi Tester EMT 5200 and Egg shell Gauge (Robotmation Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) which have computerised equipment to examine quality and physical characteristics of eggs. Statistic analyses on results were done by computer sub-programme ANOVA and Fisher's LSD test to determine the level of statistical significant difference between examined factors. Egg weight was under significant impact of age (P ? 0,05), but not under the influence of strain, although eggs of ISA Brown line were insignificantly heavier than eggs of DeKalb White line. Eggs were heaviest at layers with older age, while they were lightest at younger birds. The results have shown significant differences (P ? 0,05) in eggshell strength compared to line influence (genotype) and months of age. Eggs from ISA Brown laying hens had much better and eggshell strength than those eggs from DeKalb White. Correlations between eggshell strength and egg weight were with significant (R < 0,05) negative value, which indicating that with increasing egg weight decreases of eggshell strength.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Chang ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Shengyong Fu ◽  
Chunyu Mu ◽  
Qingping Tang ◽  
...  

In order to confirm the dietary calcium (Ca) requirement to keep a balance of the production performance and the albumen transparency, the study examined the effects of different dietary Ca levels on the production performance, egg quality, and albumen transparency of laying pigeons. 1080 pigeon pairs were randomly allocated into six treatment groups, each consisting of six replicates of 30 pigeon pairs per treatment. Ca levels of 0.60, 0.90, 1.20, 1.80, 2.40, and 3.00% were fed. The results showed that the laying rate, average egg weight, and feed to egg ratio were significantly influenced by Ca levels (p < 0.05). Albumen percentage, albumen height, Haugh unit, and eggshell thickness at 8 w and 16 w were significantly influenced by Ca levels (p < 0.05). The L*, a*, b*, and c* values of cooked albumen at 8 w and 16 w were all significantly influenced by Ca levels (p < 0.05). After 16 w of feeding different Ca levels, the percentage of transparent eggs had an early increasing and later decreasing trend. In conclusion, taking the transparency of pigeon eggs as an assessment index and considering production performance secondly, the optimal level of dietary Ca for laying White King pigeons is 0.90%.


2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 420-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Skřivan ◽  
M. Englmaierová ◽  
V. Skřivanová

The effects of diet type (wheat- or maize-based) and concentration of available phosphorus (AP; about 4, 3 and 2 g/kg) on the parameters of hen performance and egg quality as well as shell calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents were examined. Two experiments were carried out in which 240 and 120, respectively, older ISA Brown hens were housed in enriched cages. The interaction of diet type and AP concentration was ascertained for all evaluated characteristics except the amount of Ca and P deposited in shells in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the interaction of diet type and AP concentration was found for feed intake, egg weight, shell thickness and weight as well as the albumen quality parameters. Furthermore, Ca deposition in shells increased (P &lt; 0.001) with the wheat diet. Hens fed a maize-based diet (P &lt; 0.001) laid heavier eggs. The highest level of AP (4.1 g/kg) in the wheat-based diet significantly (P &lt; 0.001) decreased albumen height, albumen index and Haugh units (HU). These trends were the same in both experiments. The results indicate that 0.27% AP in wheat-based diet and 0.30% AP in maize-based diet are adequate for hens with the intake 115 g of feed with 3.5% of Ca without a negative impact on performance or egg quality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Karcher ◽  
D.R. Jones ◽  
Z. Abdo ◽  
Y. Zhao ◽  
T.A. Shepherd ◽  
...  

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