Effect of age on egg quality traits of Dahlem Red chicken under intensive system of management in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present study was carried on Dahlem Red chicken breed to assess the effect of age on egg quality traits. Total 250 eggs were collected from birds at different age groups, i.e. 21, 28, 40, 52 and 64 weeks of age for studying the external and internal egg quality parameters. The external characters like egg weight, egg length and egg width were measured. Thereafter, the egg was broken and the internal traits like albumen length, height, width of albumen, yolk height, yolk width, shell thickness were recorded using standard procedure. The derived traits like shape index, albumen index, yolk index and Haugh unit, were estimated. Most of the egg quality traits differed significantly at different age of measurements. Egg weight increased as the age of bird advanced and egg weight varied from 39.35±0.69 at 21 week of age to 59.3±1.22 at 64 week of age. Analysis of variance revealed that shape index did not differ significantly with age. Length, width and height of albumen increased as the age of bird progressed. Albumin index was significantly higher at 21 and 40 weeks of age. Similarly, yolk height and width increased as the age of bird advanced. The differences for Haugh unit scores were non-significant among the different age groups and varied within a very narrow range (96.94–98.94) at different ages indicating uniform internal egg quality over the age. Significant differences in shell thickness were observed among different age groups. Correlation coefficient between egg weight with egg length, egg width, albumen length, albumen height and yolk width were positive. Albumen index and Haugh unit were negatively correlated with egg weight at 21, 52 and 64 week of age. The result indicate that the age of bird significantly affects the egg quality parameters.

Performance of Kadaknath chicken in backyard farming system in Katni District

“…(2023) [10] also noticed early start of laying in Kadaknath (22±1.12 w) and late in local breed (24.00±2.43 w). Contrary Dinesh et al (2024) [1] reported early (141 days) in native birds and late in Kadaknath (168 days). Thomas et al…”

“…[13] , they have reported 29.43±0.58g weight of day old chick of Kadaknath. In contrary, Dinesh et al (2024) [1] (2020) [6] in his study.…”

“…(2024) [1] found higher hen day egg production in native bird (85.33) and less in Kadaknath (78.56). The variation in egg production probably associated with availability of scavenging area to the birds.…”

“…Whereas Pathak et al (2018) [5] reported lower egg weight in Kadaknath (36.37 g). Dinesh et al (2024) [1] find heavier egg weight in native bird (45.33 g) than Kadaknath (43.87 g) but difference in egg weight was non significant.…”

“…Similarly, Ranabijuli et al (2020) [6] reported higher body weight in Kadaknath (1227.22 g) and lesser in indigenous chicken (807.61 g) at 180 days. However, Dinesh et al (2024) [1] recorded 1410.10 g and 1595.20 g body weight for Kadaknath and native breed respectively at 40 weeks of age. The superiority of weight gain in Kadaknath over non-descript chicken may be attributed to genetic potential of the breed.…”