Abstract
The comparison of physical quality properties of table eggs of commercial hybrid Tetra SL and two native indigenous breeds of hens, Banat Naked Neck and Svrljig hen, was performed in conditions of alternative production in the pasture system in portable cages without the floor. The experiment was conducted during the vegetation period, at the age of hens of 53-57 weeks. In order to produce good quality eggs, the diet was designed with a complete mixture based on maize and soybean. In addition, constant availability of pastures was ensured. Egg sampling was performed in the morning and the initial egg quality was examined based on egg weight, shape index, egg white, egg yolk and shell quality parameters. Layer hens of the commercial hybrid Tetra SL had significantly higher egg weight and better internal egg quality (p<0.01) compared to hens of Banat Naked Neck and Svrljig hens, except for the colour of the yolk, which was more intense in the same feeding and breeding conditions and the age of laying hens, in eggs of native breeds (p<0.01). Native breeds in relation to the commercial hybrid had lighter shell colour (p<0.01). Deformation and egg shell thickness differed (p<0.01) between all three genotypes. The determined rank of layer hen genotypes for shell thickness was: Tetra SL, Banat Naked Neck, Svrljig hen. However, the breaking force was without statistically confirmed difference between hen genotypes.
Highlights
The acceptability of table eggs on the market is increasingly influenced by the level of welfare of laying hens, as well as the quality and safety of the product itself for consumers
These results show consistency with the research of Svobodova et al (2014) who examined the quality of Czech hen and Lohmann White eggs, in a cage and floor rearing system, found a significant genotype effect and significantly higher values of egg weight, egg shell weight and better egg white quality of eggs from Lohmann White hens
In the alternative production of table eggs, in pasture conditions, the laying hens of the commercial hybrid Tetra SL had significantly higher egg weight and better egg quality compared to Banat Naked Neck and Svrljig hen, except for the egg yolk colour which, in the same conditions of feeding and rearing, as well as layer age, was more intensive in eggs of native breeds
Summary
The acceptability of table eggs on the market is increasingly influenced by the level of welfare of laying hens, as well as the quality and safety of the product itself for consumers. Related to this is the consumer interest in poultry farming systems (Rodić et al, 2010; Tolimir et al, 2019). Native, unselected hens are characterized by higher adaptive abilities necessary for free range production and lower requirements in terms of breeding conditions Their genetic potential for production is significantly lower compared to hybrid layers (Škrbić et al, 2011)
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