The Impact of Eggshell Colour on the Quality of Table and Hatching Eggs Derived from Japanese Quail

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate table and hatching eggs of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) depending on the eggshell colour. The research was carried out in two stages, in terms of table eggs’ quality and their biological value as hatching eggs depending on the eggshell colour. In both stages, 300 Japanese quail eggs were used in each (600 in total) divided into two equal groups: with a brown-spotted shell, with a uniform shell in shades of blue. In the 1st stage, quality characteristics of the whole egg (weight, specific gravity, proportions of particular elements), yolk (weight, colour, index), albumen (weight, height) and shell (colour, strength, weight, thickness, density) were evaluated. In the 2nd stage, eggs were incubated under standard conditions and following biological characteristics were analyzed: eggs fertility, embryo mortality, hatchability of fertile and set eggs, body weight of hatchlings and their proportion in egg weight. The shell colour, “blue” or spotted, of Japanese quail eggs, does not appear to influence their quality if they are intended for consumption. However, the hatching results and body weight of obtained chicks of Japanese quail may be affected by the eggshell colour.

The Variability of Quality Traits of Table Eggs and Eggshell Mineral Composition Depending on Hens’ Breed and Eggshell Color

“…Shell color (breed of hens) can influence the proportion of particular egg morphological elements, which is confirmed by previous observations [10] as well as data obtained by other authors [9]. Similar trends were also noticed in our study.…”

“…In our study, it was observed that eggs with dark brown shells (Mrs) were characterized by the highest shape index, so the data obtained by the authors indirectly agree with our own observations. However, these features may be related to the bird species, as studies on the eggshell color in Japanese quail [ 10 ] do not confirm these observations, although the shape index values obtained did not differ significantly between experimental groups (spotted vs. blue eggs).…”

“…The Japanese quail eggs with uniform “blue” shells do not appear to be of poorer quality than those with a spotted shell, if they are intended for consumption. However, in the aspect of hatching eggs, the color of the eggshell may modify the hatching results and body weight of the chicks is obtained [ 10 ].…”

Relationship between plumage color and eggshell patterns with egg production and egg quality traits of Japanese quails

“…However, they also indicated that the effect of eggshell color on egg weight, eggshell mass, albumen weight, and yolk weight was not statistically significant. It was also pointed out that the shell color of Japanese quail eggs, blue or spotted, did not appear to affect their quality [ 29 ]; however, it can affect the hatching results and body weight of the obtained chicks of Japanese quails. Nevertheless, Taha [ 6 ] reported higher egg weight, egg length, and egg width in the black-spotted quail group than in the blue-spotted quail group.…”

Effect of the pigmentation, shine, weight, and shape index of the quail egg (Coturnix coturnix japonica) on the hatchability rate

“…The color of the eggshell has been reported to affect both its quality and biological value [ 8 – 10 ]. This is even though environmental influences such as relative humidity and storage time cannot be ruled out [ 11 ].…”