<b>Production of laying hens in different rearing systems under hot weather

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The environment is very important for the performance of laying hens; thus, techniques are required to improve production systems, providing better welfare for poultry and consequent increase in the quality of the final product, the egg. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rearing system, on the floor and in cage, on the performance and egg internal and external quality of laying hens. A total of 320 Hysex Brown laying hens, with 34-43 weeks days of age, was distributed in a completely randomized design, with two treatments, floor and cage, with 10 replicates each. The parameters evaluated were: individual feed intake, egg production per replicate, feed conversion per dozen eggs, egg weight; weight and percentage participation of shell, albumen and yolk, specific gravity, body weight variation and viability of birds. The results show that the birds raised on the floor showed best results as to egg production, besides the best internal and external quality, with greater weight of egg, yolk, albumen, shell and with lower losses of eggs. Because of the negative effects of the cage system, in general, hens presented lower results when compared to results of those raised on the floor.Keywords: laying hens, cage, egg quality, alternative system. Avaliação da produção de galinhas poedeiras criadas em diferentes sistemas em clima quente RESUMO. É de suma importância o ambiente no desempenho de galinhas poedeiras, sendo necessárias técnicas que viabilizem a melhoria dos sistemas de produção e ambiência, proporcionando bem-estar às aves e consequente incremento na qualidade do produto final, o ovo. O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do sistema de criação, em piso e gaiola sobre o desempenho e a qualidade dos ovos (interna e externa) de galinhas poedeiras. Foram utilizadas 320 galinhas poedeiras da linhagem Hysex Brown, de 34 a 43 semanas de idade, os dois tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, piso e gaiola, com 10 repetições cada. As variáveis avaliadas foram: consumo de ração individual, taxa de postura por repetição, conversão alimentar por dúzia de ovos, peso do ovo; peso e participação percentual da casca, da gema e do albúmen, gravidade específica, variação de peso corporal e viabilidade das aves. Pelos resultados foi observado que as aves criadas em piso apresentaram melhores valores de produção de ovos, além da melhor qualidade interna e externa, com maior peso do ovo, gema, albúmen e casca e com menores perdas de ovos. As aves alojadas nas gaiolas, por terem sofrido efeitos negativos do sistema de criação, apresentaram, de maneira geral, resultados inferiores quando comparado ao das aves criadas em piso.Palavras-chave: aves de postura, gaiola, qualidade do ovo, sistema alternativo.

Spatial Variability of External Egg Quality in Vertical Naturally Ventilated Caged Aviaries

“…In general, greater shell thickness was observed in the region with the highest shell weight. Winter-time values of shell weight and thickness were higher than those described by Netto et al [42], Sahin et al [12], Torki et al [13], and Yan et al [43] and close to those obtained by Samiullah et al [7] in thermoneutral environmental conditions. The measured shell thickness values corroborate those obtained by Karami et al [11], Sahin et al [12], and Torki et al [13], measured in environments with elevated temperatures (32 • C and 34 • C).…”

An Overview of Chicken Reproductive Performance and its Challenges at High-Altitude of Leh-Ladakh Region: Review

“…The housing system in poultry is one of the major external factors that influence the performance of hens as well as the egg quality [28]. According to Anderson and Adam, [29], eggs produced by chickens that are being raised in cages are heavier and are more accustomed to handling as compared to the ones which are raised in floor pens.…”

“…The level of microbial contamination of the egg also affects the egg quality characteristic and this level of contamination by bacteria depends upon the type of housing that hens are being reared in and is then related to temperature and humidity [28].…”