Abstract
Abstract In this study, the objective was to evaluate the effect of the age of Hy-line Brown hens – 44 and 60 weeks of age (26 and 42 weeks of laying) and housing system (enriched cages and litter) on the quality of eggs. According to our results, eggs with a better quality of albumen were obtained from younger hens than from older hens. Moreover, older hens produced eggs with inferior quality related to shell parameters, such as greater elastic deformation, poorer breaking strength, and thinner shells. However, hens kept in a litter housing system laid eggs with superior shell quality characteristics of less flexible and greater breaking strength, even though the thickness, weight, and percentage were similar in both housing systems. In addition, a higher amount and activity of lysozyme were obtained from eggs laid by hens kept in the litter housing system than those obtained from hens kept in cages. The maintenance system and age of birds also had a significant (P≤0.05) effect on the basic chemical composition of eggs, as well as on the proportion of individual elements and fatty acid profile. Taking these results into account, we can conclude that the more valuable characteristics from the morphological and nutritional point of view were observed in eggs obtained from younger Hy-line hens kept in the litter housing system.
Highlights
The various housing systems of laying hens still raise disputes among producers and consumers
In comparison to the cage housing system, eggs obtained from the litter housing system were characterized by lower yolk percentage and higher albumen percentage but only in the 60th week
The eggs obtained from litter housing system were characterized by greater (44th week) and lower (60th week) yolk weight than those obtained from cages, resulting in a significant interaction between HS and A (P
Summary
The various housing systems of laying hens still raise disputes among producers and consumers. Previous studies have focused on determination of the effect of various housing systems on the birds’ health and welfare, as well as on the quality of the obtained products (eggs and meat). These studies show that poultry rearing and maintenance systems affect behavior, performance, and health of the birds, as well as affect quality of eggs directly and indirectly (Van den Brand et al, 2004; Hidalgo et al, 2008; Biesiada-Drzazga and Janocha, 2009; Holt et al, 2011). Public opinion is putting more and more pressure on egg producers to limit or cease use of this hen housing system. This is even reflected in the gradual withdrawal of cage eggs in many stores. Considering the aforementioned reasons and the fact that there is continuous genetic improvement of birds, as well as the simultaneous effect of many environmental factors on the quality of the eggs in repeatedly different and often forced conditions
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