Digital imaging assisted geometry of chicken eggs using Hügelschäffer's model

Abstract

Geometrical description of the egg shape is of a great importance in a variety of studies and can be instrumental in predicting quality traits of table and hatching poultry eggs. Importantly, developments of non-destructive oomorphological models can drive novel insights in engineering and physical science and lead to new egg-related technologies and egg sorting systems for poultry industry. We attempted to test the Hugelschaffer's egg model according to which an egg profile curve can be transformed from an ellipse using a specific parameter w. For this purpose, two-dimensional digital imaging and follow-up image processing techniques of chicken eggs were employed. The formulae for recalculation of the egg volume and surface area were consequently deduced from the Hugelschaffer's equation. Eventually, we refined the Hugelschaffer's egg model and proved its applicability for defining the contours of hen's eggs. For practical use in poultry industry and food engineering, the proposed non-destructive methodology can be contributory in defining accurately the contour of any avian egg and determining such characteristics of the egg shape as volume, surface area, etc., with an expected potential in designing automated systems in poultry industry and in egg-related applications in biology, physical science, engineering and other areas.