Effect of Housing Systems - Barn vs Cage on the First Phase Egg Production and Egg Quality Traits of Laying Pullet

Abstract

With an increasing concern on laying hen welfare, barn system has appeared as one of the alternatives to replace the conventional cage. This study was conducted to compare the early laying performance and egg quality at the barn system with those at the conventional cage. A total of 288 shaver-579 brown layers were used for 9 weeks (21 st to 30 th weeks of age) feeding study. Feed consumption and egg weight were significantly (P<0.01) higher at barn than at cage.However, there were no significant differences between two housing systems on hen day egg production (HDEP), egg mass, body weight, feed efficiency and livability. In case of egg quality parameters, shell thickness, albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly (P<0.05) different between two systems. Haugh unit and albumen height were significantly higher in eggs produced at cage (88.97 and 8.16 mm) compared than those produced at barn (83.11 and 6.87 mm), whereas shell thickness was thicker in eggs produced at barn than those produced at cage. Shape index, breaking strength, blood spots and yolk index data were not influenced significantly by the types of housing system. To implement welfare bestowing production, this study showed that the barn system can replace the conventional cage without serious sacrifices on starting phase egg production. In addition, this study suggested that the barn system need to be optimized in view of daily feed consumption.

Effects of cage and barn rearing system on early laying performance of pullet

“…The result of the current study agreed with the findings of Pavlovski et al (1994) and Ahammed and Ohh (2013), who found significantly higher YCS in cages than on barn. However, Pistekova et al (2006) found greater yolk color in floor than in cage, but provided no potential reason for the difference.…”

“…The data given an impression that the difference in HDEP between rearing systems was statistically non significant at all ages. The result is in agreement with the findings of Jin and Craig (1988), Anderson and Adams (1994) and Ahammed and Ohh (2013).…”

“…The data give an impression that the difference in body weight between rearing systems was not significant (P>0.05). The result coincided with the findings of Bangcong and Cagmat (1990) and Ahammed and Ohh (2013). They reported that housing system had no significant difference on body weight between barn and cages.…”

“…Some other recent studies (Lewko andGornowicz, 2011 andOhh, 2013) reported that soiled egg was higher on barn than in cages. The result is also partially supported by Belyavin (1988), who reported that the incidence of dirty and soiled eggs were higher on floor than in cages.…”

“…Barn and cage rearing systems have their own merits and demerits. Several investigators (Abrahamsson et al 1996;Tauson et al 1999;Dukic-Stojcic et al 2009;Ahammed and Ohh, 2013) have reported that cage-reared pullets lay more eggs than those reared on barn.…”