Effect of age on egg quality in chicken

Egg quality traits were measured at 28, 40, 52, 64 and 72 weeks of age in Vanaraja male line (PD1) utilizing 20 to 40 eggs at different ages. Egg weight, colour index, Haugh unit, yolk index, albumen index, shell thickness, yolk weight, albumen weight, shell weight, yolk %, albumen % and yolk to albumen ratio differ significantly (P≤0.05) at different age of measurements. Egg weight increases linearly upto 52 weeks of age and then it remain stable. Colour index significantly lower during beginning and end of the measurements. Shell thickness was lower during 28 and 40 weeks of age. Yolk weight increases as the age advances, whereas albumen weight decreased significantly at 72 weeks of age compared to 40, 52 and 64 weeks of age. Shell weight increases as the age advances. Yolk % and yolk to albumen ratio increases as the age of measurements increases. Egg weight was negatively correlated with yolk % and positively correlated with albumen % irrespective of age. Yolk to albumen ratio was negatively correlated with egg weight irrespective of age of measurements. Correlation coefficient between egg weight with yolk, albumen and shell weight were positive. Haugh unit and albumen ratio was negatively correlated with egg weight at 64 and 72 weeks of age. The results indicates that the age of the birds significantly affect different parameters of egg quality and as the age advances, at the end of cycle most of the quality parameters decreased in magnitude and the yolk content increases compared to the albumen content