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Egg Shell Quality as Influenced by 18-Day Beak Trimming and Time of Oviposition
RESEARCH NOTES Egg Shell Quality as Influenced by 18-Day Beak Trimming and Time of Oviposition A. L. YANNAKOPOULOS and A. S. TSERVEN-GOUSI Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary School, University of Thessaloniki, Greece (Received for publication December 20, 1984)
INTRODUCTION Roland and Harms (1974) and Washburn and Potts (1975) reported that egg shell quality is superior in eggs laid in the afternoon. Several researchers have studied the effect of beak trimming on laying performance of birds. Slinger and Pepper (1964), Andrade and Carson (1975), and Lee and Reid (1977) concluded that egg production was not influenced. Lee and Reid (1977) reported that shell thickness was not influenced by beak trimming. However, an evaluation of time of oviposition in relation to beak trimming on egg production and shell quality has not been made. This study evaluates these variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-two 21-week-old White Leghorn (Babcock B-300) hens were divided into two equal groups. Group A was not beak trimmed and Group B was beak trimmed at 18 days of age. Hens of each group were allocated at random to wire cages, 40 X 45 cm, at 4 birds per cage. The 18 cages were also randomly allocated to two tiers. From 1 to 147 days of age the two groups were housed in wire cages and managed according to standard commercial practices. The hens were fed ad lib a commercial mealtype laying diet containing 2,870 kcal metabolizable energy/kg, 16.0% protein, and 3.30% calcium and .50% phosphorus. Water was
also available ad lib by a trough-type watering system. Pullets were raised under natural daylight until 20 weeks of age and then exposed to natural or artificial light from 0200 to 1900 hr daily. Eggs laid from 0730 to 1130 hr were classified as morning (a.m.) eggs and those laid from 1330 to 1730 hr designated as afternoon (p.m.) eggs. Eggs were collected and recorded. Egg weight (EW) and shell quality measurements were taken on 30 a.m. and 20 p.m. eggs for each group. Eggs were sampled from those laid during the 2-day period beginning when the birds were 28, 32, 38, and 42 weeks of age. After overnight storage at 10 C, eggs were weighed individually, then measured for specific gravity (SG) by Archimedes principle. Deformation (SD) (Schoorl and Boersma, 1962) and breaking strength (BS) of the eggs (Fig. 1) were determined by applying pressure at the pointed end of the egg by a screw. The force applied was measured in grams by a Tiedemann's dynamometer. No records were taken for the eggs laid before 0730 hr and between 1130 to 1330 hr. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and to the appropriate multiple range test (Steel and Torrie, 1960). No consistent significant beak trimming x time of oviposition interractions were found; thus, only main effects (time, beak trimming) are discussed.
398
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
ABSTRACT A 22-week study was conducted with commercial White Leghorn hens, which had been divided into beak-trimmed and untrimmed groups, to determine if beak trimming and time of oviposition affected egg shell quality. Eggs were collected daily at the same time. Shell quality measurements were made on morning (a.m.) and afternoon (p.m.) eggs at 28, 32, 38, and 42 weeks of age. Results indicated that numbers and weights of eggs of beak-trimmed birds were not significantly different from birds not beak trimmed. Shell quality, as measured by specific gravity (SG), deformation (SD), and breaking strength (BS), was not influenced by beak trimming. Weight and shell quality of afternoon eggs were superior to those laid during the morning. There were significant negative correlations between SD, SG, and BS for a.m. and p.m. eggs. It was concluded that the egg number and shell quality, although not affected by beak trimming, were influenced by time of oviposition. (Key words: egg shell quality, beak trimming, time of oviposition) 1986 Poultry Science 65:398-400
399
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Differences in egg production from 23 through 42 weeks of age were not significantly different in beak-trimmed vs nonbeak-trimmed birds (Table 1). The numbers of a.m. eggs were significantly (P<.01) greater than the number of p.m. eggs because the light-dark cycle is associated with the time at which eggs are laid (Rosales et al., 1968). There were no significant differences in weight of eggs produced by beak-trimmed and birds not beak trimmed. There was a significant (P<.05) difference between eggs laid in the morning and those laid in the afternoon, which agrees with results of Roland et al. (1973), Yannakopoulos (1974), and Roland and Harms (1974). Egg Shell Quality. Beak trimming did not significantly effect the SG of eggs (Table 2). The SG of p.m. eggs was significantly higher than that of a.m. eggs, which agrees with Roland et al. (1973) and Roland (1981). The SD did not differ significantly among eggs laid by the two beak-trim groups; however, SD scores of a.m. eggs were significantly higher than those of the p.m. eggs, which agrees with results of Washburn and Potts (1975). The BS of eggs laid by hens not beak trimmed was not significantly different than those of beaktrimmed hens. The BS of a.m. eggs was significantly (P<.05) lower than for p.m. eggs, which supports results of Washburn and Potts (1975). Correlation Between Egg Shell Quality Characteristics. The correlation coefficients of SG with SD were negative and significant (P<.001) for p.m. and a.m. eggs in both groups (r = —.52 and .67, respectively, for birds not beak trimmed and —.38 and —.52, respectively, for beak trimmed). Similar relationships have been reported by Hunton (1969) and Potts and Washburn (1974). The correlations of SG with BS were positive
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Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
FIG. 1. Device constructed by Yannakopoulos for breaking strength measurement.
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YANNAKOPOULOS AND TSERVEN-GOUSI
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TABLE 2. Egg shell quality measurements and egg weight as influenced by beak trimming and time of oviposition Egg shell quality characteristics' EW
SG
(g)
SD
BS
(Mm)
(kg)
56.03 a b 54.98bc 55.51cd
1.070 a 1.076 b 1.073 a b
31.90 a 29.50 b 30.70 c
2.54 a 2.73 b 2.64 c
Group B a.m. p_.m. X
55.75 a c 54.63 b 55.19bc
1.069 a 1.074 ab 1.071 a b
31.31 c a 29.05 b 30.18 c b
2.53 a 2.70 b c 2.62 c d
Column means with different superscripts were significantly different (P<.05). 1
EW = Egg weight, SG = specific gravity, SD = shell deformation, BS = breaking strength.
2
a.m. = Morning eggs (n = 120), p.m. = afternoon eggs (n = 80).
and significant for eggs of birds n o t beak trimm e d ( P < . 0 0 1 ) and b e a k - t r i m m e d birds ( P < . 0 5 ) . These results agree with t h o s e of P o t t s and Washburn ( 1 9 7 4 ) . N o differences were f o u n d in t h e correlation b e t w e e n SG and BS in t h e a.m. and p.m. eggs for each g r o u p . T h e correlation of SD w i t h t h e BS was negative and significant ( P < . 0 0 1 ) for p . m . and a.m. eggs in b o t h groups. This result agrees with t h e correlation values for Warren and H u b b a r d strains, r e p o r t e d b y P o t t s and Washburn ( 1 9 7 4 ) . No differences were found in t h e correlation b e t w e e n SD and BS in t h e a.m. and p . m . eggs a m o n g groups. T h u s , beak t r i m m i n g had n o effect on egg p r o d u c t i o n and egg shell quality. Also, there was no significant beak t r i m m i n g X time of oviposition interaction on shell quality, and correlations between egg shell characteristics were n o t influenced by beak trimming.
REFERENCES Andrade, A. N., and J. R. Carson, 1975. The effect of age at and methods of debeaking on future performance of White Leghorn pullets. Poultry Sci. 54:666-674. Hunton, P., 1969. The measurement of egg shell strength. A comparison of four methods. Br. Poult. Sci. 10:281-289. Lee, K., and I. S. Reid, 1977. The effect of Marek's disease vaccination and day-old debeaking on the
performance of growing pullets and laying hens. Poultry Sci. 56:736-740. Potts, P. L., and K. W. Washburn, 1974. Shell evaluation of white and brown egg strains by deformation, breaking strength, shell thickness and specific gravity. 1. Relationship to egg characteristics. Poultry Sci. 53:1123-1128. Roland, D. A., Sr., 1981. Relation of interval between eggs and time of oviposition to egg shell quality. Poultry Sci. 60:1066-1070. Roland, D. A., Sr., and R. H. Harms, 1974. Specific gravity of eggs in relation to egg weight and time of oviposition. Poultry Sci. 53:1494—1498. Roland, D. A., Sr., D. R. Sloan, and R. H. Harms, 1973. Calcium metabolism in the laying hen. 6. Shell quality in relation to time of oviposition. Poultry Sci. 52:506-510. Rosales, A. A., H. V. Biellier, and A. B. Stephenson, 1968. Effect of light cycles on oviposition and egg production. Poultry Sci. 47:586—591. Schoorl, P., and H. Y. Boersma, 1962. Research on the quality of the egg shell. Proc. 12th World Poult. Congr., Sidney, Aust. 4 3 2 - 4 3 5 . Slinger, S. J., and W. F. Pepper, 1964. Effects of debeaking and feeding whole grain on the reproductive performance of pullets. Poultry Sci. 43:356-362. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, NY. Washburn, K. W., and P. L. Potts, 1975. Effect of strain and age on the relationship of oviposition time to shell strength. Br. Poult. Sci. 1 6 : 5 9 9 606. Yannakopoulos A. L., 1974. The effect of the housing system on the productivity of laying hens. Ph.D. thesis, Vet. School, Univ. Thessaloniki, Greece.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
Group A a.m. p.m. X
INTRODUCTION Roland and Harms (1974) and Washburn and Potts (1975) reported that egg shell quality is superior in eggs laid in the afternoon. Several researchers have studied the effect of beak trimming on laying performance of birds. Slinger and Pepper (1964), Andrade and Carson (1975), and Lee and Reid (1977) concluded that egg production was not influenced. Lee and Reid (1977) reported that shell thickness was not influenced by beak trimming. However, an evaluation of time of oviposition in relation to beak trimming on egg production and shell quality has not been made. This study evaluates these variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-two 21-week-old White Leghorn (Babcock B-300) hens were divided into two equal groups. Group A was not beak trimmed and Group B was beak trimmed at 18 days of age. Hens of each group were allocated at random to wire cages, 40 X 45 cm, at 4 birds per cage. The 18 cages were also randomly allocated to two tiers. From 1 to 147 days of age the two groups were housed in wire cages and managed according to standard commercial practices. The hens were fed ad lib a commercial mealtype laying diet containing 2,870 kcal metabolizable energy/kg, 16.0% protein, and 3.30% calcium and .50% phosphorus. Water was
also available ad lib by a trough-type watering system. Pullets were raised under natural daylight until 20 weeks of age and then exposed to natural or artificial light from 0200 to 1900 hr daily. Eggs laid from 0730 to 1130 hr were classified as morning (a.m.) eggs and those laid from 1330 to 1730 hr designated as afternoon (p.m.) eggs. Eggs were collected and recorded. Egg weight (EW) and shell quality measurements were taken on 30 a.m. and 20 p.m. eggs for each group. Eggs were sampled from those laid during the 2-day period beginning when the birds were 28, 32, 38, and 42 weeks of age. After overnight storage at 10 C, eggs were weighed individually, then measured for specific gravity (SG) by Archimedes principle. Deformation (SD) (Schoorl and Boersma, 1962) and breaking strength (BS) of the eggs (Fig. 1) were determined by applying pressure at the pointed end of the egg by a screw. The force applied was measured in grams by a Tiedemann's dynamometer. No records were taken for the eggs laid before 0730 hr and between 1130 to 1330 hr. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and to the appropriate multiple range test (Steel and Torrie, 1960). No consistent significant beak trimming x time of oviposition interractions were found; thus, only main effects (time, beak trimming) are discussed.
398
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
ABSTRACT A 22-week study was conducted with commercial White Leghorn hens, which had been divided into beak-trimmed and untrimmed groups, to determine if beak trimming and time of oviposition affected egg shell quality. Eggs were collected daily at the same time. Shell quality measurements were made on morning (a.m.) and afternoon (p.m.) eggs at 28, 32, 38, and 42 weeks of age. Results indicated that numbers and weights of eggs of beak-trimmed birds were not significantly different from birds not beak trimmed. Shell quality, as measured by specific gravity (SG), deformation (SD), and breaking strength (BS), was not influenced by beak trimming. Weight and shell quality of afternoon eggs were superior to those laid during the morning. There were significant negative correlations between SD, SG, and BS for a.m. and p.m. eggs. It was concluded that the egg number and shell quality, although not affected by beak trimming, were influenced by time of oviposition. (Key words: egg shell quality, beak trimming, time of oviposition) 1986 Poultry Science 65:398-400
399
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Differences in egg production from 23 through 42 weeks of age were not significantly different in beak-trimmed vs nonbeak-trimmed birds (Table 1). The numbers of a.m. eggs were significantly (P<.01) greater than the number of p.m. eggs because the light-dark cycle is associated with the time at which eggs are laid (Rosales et al., 1968). There were no significant differences in weight of eggs produced by beak-trimmed and birds not beak trimmed. There was a significant (P<.05) difference between eggs laid in the morning and those laid in the afternoon, which agrees with results of Roland et al. (1973), Yannakopoulos (1974), and Roland and Harms (1974). Egg Shell Quality. Beak trimming did not significantly effect the SG of eggs (Table 2). The SG of p.m. eggs was significantly higher than that of a.m. eggs, which agrees with Roland et al. (1973) and Roland (1981). The SD did not differ significantly among eggs laid by the two beak-trim groups; however, SD scores of a.m. eggs were significantly higher than those of the p.m. eggs, which agrees with results of Washburn and Potts (1975). The BS of eggs laid by hens not beak trimmed was not significantly different than those of beaktrimmed hens. The BS of a.m. eggs was significantly (P<.05) lower than for p.m. eggs, which supports results of Washburn and Potts (1975). Correlation Between Egg Shell Quality Characteristics. The correlation coefficients of SG with SD were negative and significant (P<.001) for p.m. and a.m. eggs in both groups (r = —.52 and .67, respectively, for birds not beak trimmed and —.38 and —.52, respectively, for beak trimmed). Similar relationships have been reported by Hunton (1969) and Potts and Washburn (1974). The correlations of SG with BS were positive
3
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Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
FIG. 1. Device constructed by Yannakopoulos for breaking strength measurement.
rt X> Xl 00 «-H (N 0\ h M TJ- in rjm in m
YANNAKOPOULOS AND TSERVEN-GOUSI
400
TABLE 2. Egg shell quality measurements and egg weight as influenced by beak trimming and time of oviposition Egg shell quality characteristics' EW
SG
(g)
SD
BS
(Mm)
(kg)
56.03 a b 54.98bc 55.51cd
1.070 a 1.076 b 1.073 a b
31.90 a 29.50 b 30.70 c
2.54 a 2.73 b 2.64 c
Group B a.m. p_.m. X
55.75 a c 54.63 b 55.19bc
1.069 a 1.074 ab 1.071 a b
31.31 c a 29.05 b 30.18 c b
2.53 a 2.70 b c 2.62 c d
Column means with different superscripts were significantly different (P<.05). 1
EW = Egg weight, SG = specific gravity, SD = shell deformation, BS = breaking strength.
2
a.m. = Morning eggs (n = 120), p.m. = afternoon eggs (n = 80).
and significant for eggs of birds n o t beak trimm e d ( P < . 0 0 1 ) and b e a k - t r i m m e d birds ( P < . 0 5 ) . These results agree with t h o s e of P o t t s and Washburn ( 1 9 7 4 ) . N o differences were f o u n d in t h e correlation b e t w e e n SG and BS in t h e a.m. and p.m. eggs for each g r o u p . T h e correlation of SD w i t h t h e BS was negative and significant ( P < . 0 0 1 ) for p . m . and a.m. eggs in b o t h groups. This result agrees with t h e correlation values for Warren and H u b b a r d strains, r e p o r t e d b y P o t t s and Washburn ( 1 9 7 4 ) . No differences were found in t h e correlation b e t w e e n SD and BS in t h e a.m. and p . m . eggs a m o n g groups. T h u s , beak t r i m m i n g had n o effect on egg p r o d u c t i o n and egg shell quality. Also, there was no significant beak t r i m m i n g X time of oviposition interaction on shell quality, and correlations between egg shell characteristics were n o t influenced by beak trimming.
REFERENCES Andrade, A. N., and J. R. Carson, 1975. The effect of age at and methods of debeaking on future performance of White Leghorn pullets. Poultry Sci. 54:666-674. Hunton, P., 1969. The measurement of egg shell strength. A comparison of four methods. Br. Poult. Sci. 10:281-289. Lee, K., and I. S. Reid, 1977. The effect of Marek's disease vaccination and day-old debeaking on the
performance of growing pullets and laying hens. Poultry Sci. 56:736-740. Potts, P. L., and K. W. Washburn, 1974. Shell evaluation of white and brown egg strains by deformation, breaking strength, shell thickness and specific gravity. 1. Relationship to egg characteristics. Poultry Sci. 53:1123-1128. Roland, D. A., Sr., 1981. Relation of interval between eggs and time of oviposition to egg shell quality. Poultry Sci. 60:1066-1070. Roland, D. A., Sr., and R. H. Harms, 1974. Specific gravity of eggs in relation to egg weight and time of oviposition. Poultry Sci. 53:1494—1498. Roland, D. A., Sr., D. R. Sloan, and R. H. Harms, 1973. Calcium metabolism in the laying hen. 6. Shell quality in relation to time of oviposition. Poultry Sci. 52:506-510. Rosales, A. A., H. V. Biellier, and A. B. Stephenson, 1968. Effect of light cycles on oviposition and egg production. Poultry Sci. 47:586—591. Schoorl, P., and H. Y. Boersma, 1962. Research on the quality of the egg shell. Proc. 12th World Poult. Congr., Sidney, Aust. 4 3 2 - 4 3 5 . Slinger, S. J., and W. F. Pepper, 1964. Effects of debeaking and feeding whole grain on the reproductive performance of pullets. Poultry Sci. 43:356-362. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, NY. Washburn, K. W., and P. L. Potts, 1975. Effect of strain and age on the relationship of oviposition time to shell strength. Br. Poult. Sci. 1 6 : 5 9 9 606. Yannakopoulos A. L., 1974. The effect of the housing system on the productivity of laying hens. Ph.D. thesis, Vet. School, Univ. Thessaloniki, Greece.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kokusai Hoken Keikakugaku (UNIV OF TOKYO) on May 19, 2015
Group A a.m. p.m. X