Short-Term Effects of Age, Egg Production Rate and Oviposition Time on Shell Quality and Albumen + Yolk Proportions of Harco Strain Layers

Abstract

One hundred and forty-four newly-laid eggs produced by the Harco Strain of chickens aged 5weeks were used in the evaluation of the effects of layer age, egg production rate oviposition a 12-week study, values for shell weight. Albumen + yolk weight, percentage albumen + yolk for eggs laid in the morning were significantly (P<0.05) higher than for the eggs laid in the afternoon. Eggs laid in the afternoon had thicker (P<0.05) shells and higher percentage shell weights. Correlation coefficients (r) between shell weight, percentage shell weight, shell thickness, albumen + yolk weight, percentage albumen + yolk and age of layers were 0.42, 0.25, 0.71, 0.58 and -0.26 respectively, while r values with percentage hen-day production as independent Variable were -0.48, -0.34, 0.32,-0.38, 0.35. Shell thickness was negatively correlated with shell weight (0.51)) and egg weight (-0.49)respectively.