Changes of egg quality properties with the age of layer hens in traditional and conventional production
The upcoming ban on cage rearing system, ecological aspects of production, perception of better quality and biological safety of products from less intensive systems are reasons in favour of alternative (non-conventional) systems of production of table eggs. Considering only few studies have dealt with quality properties of eggs obtained from autochthonous breeds and changes during production cycle, objective of this study was to define these changes and determine the degree of correlation between the age of layer hens of Banat Naked-Neck breed and quality of eggs in traditional production in relation to conventional, traditional production of light line hybrid of layers in cage system. Results of the study showed poorer quality of eggs from traditional production but certain properties (egg mass, egg shell mass), thanks to strong positive correlation to age of layer hens, were significantly improved, i.e. no decrease with the age of layers was determined, contrary to eggs from conventional production.