Effect of breed on some parameters of egg quality in laying hens

Abstract

DOI: 10.15414/afz.2015.18.01.20–24

Received 24. September2014 ǀ Accepted 16. March 2015 ǀ Available online 31. March 2015

The objective of this study was to compare some internal and external quality parameters of eggs between Oravka and Rhode Island Red laying hens. The flocks kept in National Agriculture and Food Centre - Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra (RIAP Nitra) were involved in the experiment. The females of both breeds were of the same age (11 months, 5th month of lay). Eggs were collected during three days consecutively (10 eggs per breed and day) and were analysed in the laboratory of Department of Poultry Science and Small Animal Husbandry at the Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. There were 11 females in each group and a total of 30 eggs in each group were analysed. The females were housed in outdoor unheated roofed wooden chicken coop with free range available; fed standard feed ad libitum. The average egg weight was significantly (P≤0.01) affected by breed. Females of Oravka breed were of heavier eggs (60.96 ± 0.56 g) than females of Rhode Island Red (57.60 ±0.76 g). The significant differences were also found in egg width and egg length, however, no significant differences were found in egg shape index. The egg shell thickness significantly differed (P≤0.01) between Oravka and Rhode Island Red (367.78 ±3.12 μm vs. 379.33 ±2.49 μm). The albumen weight was significantly higher in Oravka breed (34.96 ±0.58 g) than in Rhode Island Red breed (32.78 ±0.73 g). No statistical differences were found in the remaining albumen characteristics. However, the slight difference (P≤0.10) was found in Haugh Unit (71.46 ± 1.64 HU for Oravka vs. 74.45 ±1.53 HU for Rhode Island Red). With yolk characteristics, yolk weight and yolk colour significantly differed (P ≤ 0.01) between Oravka breed (19.93 ±0.23 g and 10.60 ±0.09 ^oHLR) and Rhode Island Red breed (18.61 ±0.20 g and 11.10 ±0.20 ^oHLR). No statistical differences were found in the remaining yolk characteristics, except for a slight difference (P ≤ 0.10) in yolk index (42.14 ±0.50 % for Oravka and 40.31 ±1.00 % for Rhode Island Red).

Keywords: females, Oravka, Rhode Island Red, egg