Effects of egg weight on egg quality characteristics

Abstract BACKGROUND: The experiment was carried out with total of 270 eggs, which were collected from a brown‐egg layer strain of Lohmann hens reared in a cage system. Collected eggs were categorized according to weight and classified as medium, large, extra‐large or jumbo. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of egg weight on egg quality characteristics. RESULTS: The darkest shell color scales were noted in jumbo eggs. The redness of egg shell color in the medium egg was significantly lower than that of the other egg sizes ( P < 0.05). Egg shell thickness ( P < 0.05) was highest in medium egg (0.400 mm) and lowest in extra‐large egg (0.382 mm). Albumen height (AH) was significantly affected by egg weight (EW) ( P < 0.01). Yolk height (YH) and yolk index (YI) increased with egg size. Breaking strength was highest in the medium‐weight egg. There were significant positive correlations between EW and AH, EW and YH, EW and YI, EW and yol color, EW and redness ( a ), but EW had significant negative correlations with ST in overall eggs. CONCLUSION: The darkest shell color ( L ‐ a ‐ b ) was noted in the jumbo egg. Albumen height and yolk height increased with egg weight. Increase in egg weight caused darkness in the yolk color scale. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry