Phenotypic Correlations Between Egg Quality Traits Amid the Laying Phase of Broiler Breeder Hens

Abstract

Summary In order to determine phenotypic correlations between the quality traits of eggs from 41-week-old broiler breeder hens (Cobb 500), a total of 105 eggs suitable for incubation were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The average values of egg weight, egg length, egg width, egg shape index, shell thickness, shell weight, and shell ratio were 66.90 g, 60.00 mm, 44.81 mm, 74.70%, 0.37 mm, 6.07 g, and 9.07%, respectively. Moreover, the average values of yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk ratio, albumen ratio, Haugh units, yolk index, and yolk-to-albumen ratio were 20.04 g, 40.80 g, 29.97%, 60.95%, 82.12, 46.17%, and 0.49, respectively. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) was found between the egg weight and the egg length (0.75), egg width (0.80), shell (0.55), yolk (0.60), albumen weight (0.91), and albumen ratio (0.25). However, a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) was found between the egg weight and both the yolk ratio (-0.20) and yolk-to-albumen ratio (-0.23). The egg shape index proved not to be significantly correlated with any of the internal egg quality traits considered. The shell thickness was in a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) with the shell weight (0.83) and ratio (0.86), whereas a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the shell thickness and yolk ratio (-0.23). The Haugh units were in a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) with the albumen ratio (0.24) and yolk index (0.27), whereas a significant negative correlation (p<0.05) was found between the Haugh units and both the yolk ratio (-0.22) and yolk-to-albumen ratio (-0.23). The results obtained confirm significant phenotypic correlations not only between egg weight and the egg quality traits considered, but also between a number of external and internal quality traits of broiler hatching eggs.

Phenotypic correlation between egg quality indices in 85-weeks-old layer chicken genotypes

“…The perfect positive correlation of ED with ESA and EV in HEN were in agreement withAlkan et al (2015) andTyasi et al (2022). The moderate to perfect negative correlation of ESG with geometrical egg traits (EL and ESA in SB, and EL, ED and ESA in HEN) agrees withInca et al (2020) and this could be attributed to the reduced shell thickness as these traits increase in value(Favero et al, 2013;Vekic et al, 2022). ESI was very weakly correlated with ESA and EV in SB and ESA, EV and ESG in HEN in agreement with previous studies(Aktan et al, 2005;Altuntas and Sekeroglu, 2008;Inca et al, 2020) and this indicates that changes in the values of these traits have very minimal in uence on ESI.…”

“…Environmental factors include season, ambient temperature, humidity, duration of storage, diet, nutritional status of hen; health and disease, management practices, and husbandry system (Yang et al, 2014) while genetic factors include species, breed or genotype of bird, extent and direction of genetic selection and selective breeding (Amao et al, 2016;Yahaya et al, 2023). Egg quality vary widely between ecological zones, farms, management systems, and within and between laying cycles (Vekic et al, 2022;Tunsisa and Reda, 2023); necessitating continuous evaluation of egg quality within each enterprise.…”

“…The age of the laying ock is of particular interest in evaluating egg quality. Whereas egg weight increases with age of hen, egg quality decreases (Kontecka et al, 2012;Vekic et al, 2022). Aged hens lay eggs with higher proportion of yolk, lower proportion of albumen, and thinner shell than younger layers and this is attributed to increased egg size and egg surface area with age (Favero et al, 2013;Vekic et al, 2022).…”

“…Whereas egg weight increases with age of hen, egg quality decreases (Kontecka et al, 2012;Vekic et al, 2022). Aged hens lay eggs with higher proportion of yolk, lower proportion of albumen, and thinner shell than younger layers and this is attributed to increased egg size and egg surface area with age (Favero et al, 2013;Vekic et al, 2022). The negative impacts of aging stress and stress due to arti cial control measures (Zhang et al, 2021) may also contribute to decreased egg quality via changes in ovarian regulatory hormones secretion, damage to follicular cells, and lowered oocyte quality (Youris, 2012;Zhang et al, 2022).…”

Exploring Data Mining Algorithms for Predicting Duck Egg Weight Based on Egg Quality Characteristics

“…The negative significant relationship between EWT and HU stands in contrast to the insignificant correlation reported by other researchers (Debnath and Ghosh, 2015;Vekić et al, 2022). Haugh unit is an important index to evaluate egg protein qualityand reflect egg freshness (Gao et al, 2022).…”