Egg quality of gene reserve czech golden spotted hens

Abstract

DOI: 10.15414/afz.2014.17.03.84–86

Received 16. May 2014 ǀ Accepted 11. July 2014 ǀ Available online 27. August 2014

In Czech Republic, there are two national poultry breeds, Czech Goose and Czech Golden Spotted Hen (CZH), which are under governmental project of gene reserves. In 2012 there were less than 220 CZH both males and females in this program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the egg quality of CZHs included in the project of gene reserves kept in International Poultry Testing in Ustrašice.

Four flocks of CZHs of four different breeders’ origin were used in the observation. They fed the same diets and they were the same age. Eggs for measurement egg quality were collected each two months 30 per flock from December to January next year.

The egg weight ranged from 57.0 to 58.0g (P>0.05).  The eggshell strength was relatively high, in all flock higher than 35N, and the differences among the flocks were no significant (P>0.05). Significantly darker eggshell color expressed as SCI was found in one flock in comparison with the others (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in both yolk weight and yolk color (P>0.05). The weight of yolk was higher than 18g in all flocks. The yolk proportion was significantly (P<0.05) lower in one flock (31.2%) in comparison with the rest of flocks (from 32.2 to 32.9%).

Although the egg production in Czech Golden Spotted hens is very unbalanced, the egg quality is very consistent. At feeding the same diets there were no significant difference among the flocks in majority of observed characteristics. Advantage of the eggs is high weight of yolk and consequently yolk proportion.

Keywords: egg weight, eggshell color, yolk proportion