Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions

The production system using cages is a highly polemical issue in Europe, because of the space restriction imposed to laying hens. It is considered that the cage system might compromise important comfort movements, welfare and egg quality. This study evaluated egg quality and welfare of two strains o...

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Main Authors: JAD Barbosa Filho, MAN Silva, IJO Silva, AAD Coelho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas 2006-03-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2006000100003
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author JAD Barbosa Filho
MAN Silva
IJO Silva
AAD Coelho
author_facet JAD Barbosa Filho
MAN Silva
IJO Silva
AAD Coelho
author_sort JAD Barbosa Filho
collection DOAJ
description The production system using cages is a highly polemical issue in Europe, because of the space restriction imposed to laying hens. It is considered that the cage system might compromise important comfort movements, welfare and egg quality. This study evaluated egg quality and welfare of two strains of hens housed in a conventional system (battery laying cages) or litter system with nest and perches, and submitted to heat stress or comfort conditions. Two groups of 20 birds (10 Hy-line W36 and 10 Hy-line Brown) were submitted to two environmental conditions (26&deg;C and 60% RH or 35&deg;C and 70% RH) and two housing systems (cages or litter) in the early production phase. Egg quality was analyzed based on egg weight, eggshell thickness, specific gravity, and Haugh units. Yolk and shell contamination by Salmonella sp was also assessed. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in quality parameters was observed in eggs produced by laying hens under heat stress, mainly in the birds housed in cages.
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spelling doaj.art-e83437a3f480461385ef17b7c7ee0b2e2022-12-22T03:32:01ZengFundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia AvícolasBrazilian Journal of Poultry Science1516-635X1806-90612006-03-0181232810.1590/S1516-635X2006000100003Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditionsJAD Barbosa FilhoMAN SilvaIJO SilvaAAD CoelhoThe production system using cages is a highly polemical issue in Europe, because of the space restriction imposed to laying hens. It is considered that the cage system might compromise important comfort movements, welfare and egg quality. This study evaluated egg quality and welfare of two strains of hens housed in a conventional system (battery laying cages) or litter system with nest and perches, and submitted to heat stress or comfort conditions. Two groups of 20 birds (10 Hy-line W36 and 10 Hy-line Brown) were submitted to two environmental conditions (26&deg;C and 60% RH or 35&deg;C and 70% RH) and two housing systems (cages or litter) in the early production phase. Egg quality was analyzed based on egg weight, eggshell thickness, specific gravity, and Haugh units. Yolk and shell contamination by Salmonella sp was also assessed. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in quality parameters was observed in eggs produced by laying hens under heat stress, mainly in the birds housed in cages.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2006000100003Egg qualityenvironmenthousing systemslaying hens
spellingShingle JAD Barbosa Filho
MAN Silva
IJO Silva
AAD Coelho
Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science
Egg quality
environment
housing systems
laying hens
title Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
title_full Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
title_fullStr Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
title_full_unstemmed Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
title_short Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
title_sort egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions
topic Egg quality
environment
housing systems
laying hens
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2006000100003
work_keys_str_mv AT jadbarbosafilho eggqualityinlayershousedindifferentproductionsystemsandsubmittedtotwoenvironmentalconditions
AT mansilva eggqualityinlayershousedindifferentproductionsystemsandsubmittedtotwoenvironmentalconditions
AT ijosilva eggqualityinlayershousedindifferentproductionsystemsandsubmittedtotwoenvironmentalconditions
AT aadcoelho eggqualityinlayershousedindifferentproductionsystemsandsubmittedtotwoenvironmentalconditions