Comparisons of Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Eggs Obtained using Hens Reared in Deep Litter and Free-Range Systems

Authors : İsmail Türker, Sezai Alkan

Pages : 181-188

Doi:10.15832/ankutbd.378578

View : 71 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2019-06-05

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study was designed to compare the physical and chemical qualities of eggs obtained using hens reared in free-range  and deep-litter systems. A total of 300 Lohmann Brown hens insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(150 for each housing system); were used. In the free-range  system, 4 m2 grazing area was allocated for each hen. The hens were taken into layer house at 16 weeks of age. Hen egg  production reached up to 50%, produced eggs were randomly sampled once every 4 weeks until 52 weeks of age and  physical characteristics of eggs from each housing system were measured. Results revealed that there was no significant  difference in egg shell color, egg weight, breaking strength, shell thickness, shape index, specific gravity, yolk color,  albumen index, haugh unit, meat and blood spots of eggs from two housing systems. However, there was a significant  difference in yolk index. It was determined that housing systems effected the chemical content of the egg and the eggs  obtained from free-range system were significantly richer in essential amino acids, vitamin D3 and biotin.
Keywords : Hens, Free range system, Deep litter systems, Egg quality

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