title: Interaction of hen production type, age, and temperature on laying pattern and egg quality.
abstract: The effect of production type (layer vs. broiler breeder), age (onset and end of laying cycle), and temperature (20 and 28°C) on various aspects of the egg production process and quality was evaluated. Highly significant differences were detected between laying hens and broiler breeders (P ≤ 0.001) in all production parameters. Similarly, age significantly affected rate of lay (P ≤ 0.001; 75.4% for young vs. 62.6% for old), mean sequence length (P ≤ 0.001; 7.7 d for young vs. 2.6 d for old), and time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.001). However, there was no effect of temperature on rate of lay, sequence length, or feed intake. Significant interactions between hen type and age were apparent in rate of lay (P ≤ 0.001), sequence length (P ≤ 0.001), and time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.001). A significant interaction between production type and age (P ≤ 0.015) was evident in egg weight, but egg component proportions were dependent only on hen type. Egg shape index was significantly affected by age (P ≤ 0.004), by temperature (P ≤ 0.028), and an interaction between type and age (P ≤ 0.001). Specific gravity declined with age (P ≤ 0.035) and increasing temperature (P ≤ 0.013).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Husbandry, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. tumova@af.czu.cz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tumová
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gous
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000145:classification*; D004531:Eggs / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature