Variation and Association of Hen Performance and Egg Quality Traits in Individual Early-Laying ISA Brown Hens

Anene, Doreen O.; Akter, Yeasmin; Thomson, Peter C.; Groves, Peter; O�Shea, Cormac J.

Abstract

Uniformity in hen and egg traits is an important consideration in commercial layer flocks. There is little information on how individual hen feed consumption and body weight affect egg quality measurements. This study investigated the variation in performance traits of individual hens and associations with egg quality characteristics. Four hundred and fifty-five ISA Brown caged hens in early lay were monitored for 42 days (25 to 30 weeks of age) to collect hen feed consumption and egg production measurements. Forty-four hens from the flock were randomly selected and eggs were collected from the same hen once weekly for albumen, yolk, and shell assessment. The means ± standard deviation of average daily feed intake (ADFI), albumen height, initial body weight (IBW), and final body weight (FBW) were 124 g ± 15, 10.3 mm ± 1.5, 1802 g ± 129, and 2000 g ± 175, respectively. Albumen height was not associated with ADFI (r = 0.18, p = 0.21), IBW (r = −0.04, p = 0.79), or FBW (r = −0.06, p = 0.69). This study showed variation in feed intake, body weight, and albumen quality of individual early-lay hens. Feed intake and body weight did not influence albumen quality.

Citation

Anene, D. O., Akter, Y., Thomson, P. C., Groves, P., & O’Shea, C. J. (2020). Variation and Association of Hen Performance and Egg Quality Traits in Individual Early-Laying ISA Brown Hens. Animals, 10(9), Article 1601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091601

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Sep 8, 2020
• Publication Date: Sep 8, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 12, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 17, 2020
• Journal: Animals
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 1601
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091601
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5037958
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1601