Age effects on egg quality traits in a 3-way cross egg type chicken developed for backyard poultry farming

Abstract

Egg quality traits were measured at 32, 40, 52, 64 and 72 wks of age in a 3 way cross (PD1 x IWI x PD3) utilizing 20 to 30 eggs at different ages. Egg weight, colour index, albumen and yolk index, Haugh unit, shell thickness, shell % and albumen % differ significantly (p≤0.05) at different age of measurements. Egg weight increases linearly upto 52 wks of age and then it remain stable. Colour index significantly lower during beginning and at later ages the index was higher. Shell thickness was highest during 52 wks of age but at other ages it remains non significant. Yolk index significantly decreased at 72 wks of age compared to other ages of measurements. Albumen index decreases as the age of measurements increases. Haugh unit was significantly low at 72 wks of age compared to 64 and 40 wks of age. Yolk % increases as the age advances but it was statistically non-significant, whereas albumen % decreased significantly at 52, 64 and 72 wks of age compared to 32 wks of age. Shell % increases as the age advances. The results indicates that the age of the birds significantly affect different parameters of egg quality and as the age advances, at the end of cycle most of the quality parameters decreased in magnitude and the yolk content increases compared to the albumen content.