The cuticle: A barrier to liquid and particle penetration of the shell of the hen's egg

The cuticle of the egg shell prevents water‐soluble dyes and carbon black from entering the majority of pores. A small percentage of eggs obtained from a commercial flock had no cuticle and their shells were easily invaded by carbon black. Chemical or physical removal of cuticle resulted in the pores being flooded with water which carried in carbon black. Such eggs did not, however, absorb water at a rate equal to that of eggs from which a piece of shell had been removed. This indicated that the pores without a cap and plug of cuticular material resisted the movement of water. The role of the cuticle and shell in repelling water is discussed and a function akin to that of the plastron of insect eggs proposed.     

Effect of spray sanitising on hatching egg cuticle efficacy and hatchability

1. Eggs from a broiler breeder flock were sanitised using a continuous spray sanitising machine. The effect of this treatment on the ability of the cuticle to resist water and bacterial penetration was investigated throughout the production cycle.

2. The volume of water taken up by eggs that had been sanitised was significantly (P < 0.001) greater than that taken up by the control eggs. The volume of water taken up by the sanitised eggs increased as the flock age increased, whereas water uptake was maximal for the control eggs at 42 weeks of age.

3. There was no correlation between water uptake values and shell thickness or egg weight for either the sanitised or control eggs.

4. Sanitised eggs tended to dominate the “poor cuticle quality” category at all flock ages, when a subjective assessment of cuticle quality was made using the stain Edicol Supra Pea Green.

5. Egg sanitising did not affect shell reflectance values, shell thickness or the percentage of cracked shells.

6. When flock age reached 49 weeks of age, the sanitising process significantly (P < 0.001) reduced hatchability.     

Some factors affecting the incidence of cracks in hens’ egg shells

Six blocks of data are analysed: British Egg Marketing Board (BEMB) data on second quality eggs‐in‐shell in packing station throughput; shell thickness and colour data on 1,440 eggs sampled in 4 packing stations; crack incidence data on 162,480 individually recorded eggs from a two‐strain experimental flock kept in battery cages; similar data on 34,611 eggs from another experimental flock; shell thickness, volume and shape data on 76 eggs from 19 pairs of hens, one of each pair with a high and one with a low shell‐crack record; and BEMB data on the prevalence of battery and deep‐litter husbandry. Conclusions reached are:

1. Over the last decade there has been a rise in the incidence of packing‐station egg downgrading in the United Kingdom; it is assumed to have been due largely to a rise in the incidence of cracked shells.

2. The rise in crack incidence was probably not due primarily to deterioration in shell strength associated with high production rates or white shell colour; such associations were looked for but not found.

3. It was probably due primarily to an increase in “ environmental insults “ to packing‐station eggs accompanying the spread of deep‐litter and battery husbandry; a close association was found between their incidence and that of downgrading.

Implications for cage designers, breeders, egg producers and research workers are discussed.     

Salmonella in Belgian laying hens: an identification of risk factors

Since the 1980s, the prevalence of Salmonella in Belgian poultry layers and broilers has greatly fluctuated with a rise observed in 2003 and a significant decrease in 2005. In order to alleviate the risk at egg consumer level, it is crucial to understand the factors which influence the contamination and the spread of Salmonella in laying hens. To study such determinants we explored the Belgian data from the 2005 baseline study on the prevalence of Salmonella in laying flocks of Gallus gallus in the European Union. The response variables corresponded to presence or absence of Salmonella from dust and faecal samples taken from the environment of a Belgian layer flock. The explanatory variables included: region of Belgium, sampling time (month the flock was sampled), production type (cage or barn and free range), Salmonella vaccination status, flock age and flock size. Analyses of these data were performed using a bivariate logistic regression model assuming independence between the two responses and bivariate generalized estimating equations model, which incorporates the correlation between the two responses on the same flock. The main risk factor that was identified was rearing flocks in cages compared to barns and free-range systems. The results also showed a significant higher risk for Salmonella for a 1 week increase in flocks’ age as well as with a unit increase in the size of the flock.     

Eggshell characteristics and penetration by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis through the production period of a layer flock

1. Egg weight, shell thickness, number of pores, cuticle deposition and ability of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) to penetrate the shell were determined for eggs from one layer flock through the entire production period. 2. Penetration was assessed by filling the eggs with a selective medium that allowed visualising Salmonella growth on the inside of the shell and membrane complex. After inoculation of each shell with on average 2.59 log cfu, the eggs were stored for up to 20 d at 20 degrees C and 60% relative humidity (RH). 3. On average 38.7% of the eggshells became penetrated. Mostly penetration occurred on d 3. Although it affected all shell characteristics studied, hen age did not significantly influence eggshell penetration. 4. No correlations were observed between any of the shell characteristics studied and the ability of SE to penetrate the shell. The growth of SE on the shell is of major importance because shell contamination at 20 d of storage and SE penetration were highly correlated.     

Effects of housing system (outdoor vs cages) and age of laying hens on egg characteristics

1. Effects of two housing systems (cages vs outdoor) on external and internal egg characteristics were investigated. 2. In total 785 eggs from three different lines in cages and 268 eggs from outdoor-housed layers were examined for egg weight, albumen, yolk and shell content, albumen height and pH, and albumen and yolk dry matter content. 3. Interactions between layer age and housing systems were found for egg weight, eggshell content, albumen height, albumen pH, and dry matter content of the albumen and yolk. This was mainly due to the greater variation with age in the outdoor layers, compared to the caged layers. 4. Irrespective of age eggs from outdoor layers were relatively broader than eggs from the caged layers. Yolk colour was considerably darker in the outdoor group (11.0 vs 9.3). 5. We concluded that it is more difficult to maintain constant external and internal egg quality in an outdoor housing system than in a battery cage system. Factors that determine the greater fluctuations in internal egg quality need to be investigated.     

The structure of the organic mammillary cores in some weak egg shells

The microscopic structure of the outermost layer of the outer shell membrane containing decalcified mammillary cores of some of the egg shells laid by a large flock of Shaver 288 Starcross hybrids from November 1967 to September 1968 has been examined. It has been found that a high percentage of the weak and thin egg shells contain abnormal organic mammillary cores. The results are discussed with special reference to the recent findings of other workers who have studied the crystalline structure of shell concretions and egg shells laid by hens under climatic stress.     

Application of risk-rated profit model functions in estimation of economic values for indigenous chicken breeding

The economic values for productive (egg number, average daily gain, live weight, and mature weight) and functional (fertility, hatchability, broodiness, survival rate, feed intake, and egg weight) traits were derived for three production systems utilizing indigenous chicken in Kenya. The production systems considered were free-range, semi-intensive, and intensive system and were evaluated based on fixed flock size and fixed feed resource production circumstances. A bio-economic model that combined potential performances, feeding strategies, optimum culling strategies, farmer's preferences and accounted for imperfect knowledge concerning risk attitude of farmers and economic dynamics was employed to derive risk-rated economic values. The economic values for all the traits were highest in free-range system under the two production circumstances and decreased with level of intensification. The economic values for egg number, average daily gain, live weight, fertility, hatchability, and survival rate were positive while those for mature weight, broodiness, egg weight, and feed intake were negative. Generally, the economic values estimated under fixed feed resource production circumstances were higher than those derived under fixed flock size. The difference between economic values estimated using simple (traditional) and risk-rated profit model functions ranged from -47.26% to +67.11% indicating that inclusion of risks in estimation of economic values is important. The results of this study suggest that improvement targeting egg number, average daily gain, live weight, fertility, hatchability, and survival rate would have a positive impact on profitability of indigenous chicken production in Kenya.     

Bacterial contamination of eggs and behaviour of poultry flocks in the free range environment

The free range production system is becoming more common in Australia and is expected to increase. Free range hens are exposed to more stressors in comparison to hens from barn and cage systems and it is suggested that stress can increase bacterial shedding on eggs. The aims of this study were to examine the level of total bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae populations, as well as the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter, in eggs collected from two free range flocks on two different farms and to conduct longitudinal observations of the behaviour and welfare of hens in the free range production system. Hen age (weeks) was shown to have a significant effect (increase) on the level of total bacteria on the egg shell surface and in shell pores, as well as having an effect on feather condition score. As the hens aged, the frequency of external visual egg characteristics increased, as did feather condition score (where feather condition was poorer). These observations indicate areas which should be investigated further to improve the food safety of eggs and optimise the welfare of free range hens.     

Observations on Salmonella contamination of commercial laying farms before and after cleaning and disinfection

Little is known about the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection methods in use on commercial laying farms in Great Britain. Samples were taken from poultry house structures and equipment of five cage layer flocks, five barn egg production flocks and two free-range flocks. In the free-range houses there was a decrease in Salmonella after cleaning and disinfection, although the soil in the paddocks remained contaminated. In the barn and especially the cage layer houses, significant residual contamination remained on the surfaces of buildings and equipment. Wildlife pests were also found to be carrying Salmonella in the disinfected houses and free-range paddocks.     

Effects of egg weight on the egg quality,chick quality,and broiler performance at the later stages of production (week 60) in broiler breeders

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of broiler breeder egg weight on egg quality, chick quality, and broiler performance using Hubbard Classic broiler breeder flock. Hatching eggs from a commercial broiler breeder flock (Hubbard classic strain) were obtained at the age of 60 wk and divided into 3 egg-weight categories, namely small, medium, and large. For this purpose, 930 eggs having weights 63.09 ± 0.21, 68.85 ± 0.23, and 74.81 ± 0.11g were divided into 3 egg categories labeled small, medium, and large respectively. We further divided these eggs into 2 categories, eggs for quality parameters and eggs for incubation and posthatch performance parameters. Eggs from the small egg category had greater proportion of the shell weight and more shell strength. Egg weight did not significantly affect the albumen and yolk weight percentage. Egg weight affected the shape index and specific gravity for which lower values were observed for large eggs. Egg weight positively affected the chick weight, chick yield, and chick length (P < 0.05) of both male and female chicks. Results of the body weight gain showed that effect of egg weight on the posthatch performance of chick diminishes with the age of broilers. Egg weight significantly affected the body weight gain of male and female chicks up to 3 wk of age. Egg weights did not significantly affect the feed intake and mortality of broiler. Different egg-weight categories significantly affected the feed conversion ratio of female chicks at wk 2 and 3 of age and did not affect the feed conversion of male and female chicks at the end of wk 5. In conclusion, egg weight positively affected the chick characteristics (e.g., chick weight, chick length) and did not affect the final live body weight, feed conversion ratio, feed intake, and mortality in broilers.     

Categorisation and causes of abnormal egg shells: relationship with stress

Concern regarding the proportion of brown eggs being laid with abnormal egg shells led to an investigation of the relationship between disturbance or stress and egg shell appearance and quality. The abnormalities fell into two main classes: misshapen or bulging eggs and eggs coated with a superficial layer of amorphous calcium, variously termed dusted, white banded, chalky or pink eggs. Translocation of hens from pens to cages resulted in a decrease in egg production and an increase in the proportion of abnormal eggs over the succeeding 18 d. Disturbance to flocks on deep litter resulted in an increase in the proportion of eggs laid with abnormal shells on the following day, not only in the flocks directly affected but also in an adjacent flock. Exclusion from their nests of birds accustomed to laying in nest boxes resulted in disturbed prelaying behaviour, retention of eggs in the shell gland and an increased proportion of coated eggs. Administration of 0.1, 0.25 or 1.0 mg of adrenaline subcutaneously resulted in the retention of eggs currently in the hens' shell glands and in an increased proportion of eggs with abnormal egg shells being laid during the following 10 d. A dose response effect was apparent. There was evidence that the nature of the particular abnormality produced was dependent on the stage of egg formation at which the disturbance was imposed and, if retention followed, upon the length of time the egg was retained. Disturbances when eggs were only lightly calcified tended to result in misshapen eggs, while those occurring when oviposition was imminent tended to result in coated eggs. Dusted or pink eggs followed moderate retention whereas white banded eggs were seen after prolonged retention. These observations may provide a basis for a non-invasive method of assessing stress in laying hens as well as helping to account for hitherto inexplicable occurrences of declining egg shell quality.     

A mechanistic, stochastic, population model of egg production

1. A mechanistic, stochastic egg production model is presented. Mean age at first egg may be predicted from the lighting programme applied during rearing, using the Bristol-Reading model (Lewis et al., 2002). 2. Rate of ovulation is determined by an amended version of the mathematical model of the ovulatory cycle, originally proposed by Etches and Schoch (1984). 3. Oviposition times are estimated from ovulation times. 4. Yolk, albumen and shell weights are calculated using allometric functions. 5. The model predicts egg production of a theoretical flock of laying hens for a full laying year, including random occurrences of double-yolked and soft-shelled eggs and internal ovulations.     

Influence of the type of management system on corticosterone transfer into eggs in laying hens

The effect of free-range versus cage management system on corticosterone transfer into the eggs was studied in laying hens. Hungarian Yellow laying hens (age: 21 weeks, body weight: 2.0 +/- 0.5 kg) were divided into two groups in the spring: Group I, free-range keeping (n=15 layers, density: > 0.5 bird/m2) in outdoor runs, with continuous access to a commercial layer feed; Group II, hens kept in battery cages (n=17 layers, density: 2 birds/m2, natural light, continuous access to feed and water). Eggs were collected after a one-week adaptation period on days 2, 7 and 16. Corticosterone (CST) was extracted from homogenised egg samples using an ASE-200 Accelerated Solvent Extractor and then assayed by liquid chromatography linked with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [Thermo Quest Surveyor high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) interfaced via Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) ion source to Finnigan/Thermo Quest LCQ Deca MS/MS] using dexamethasone as internal standard with positive APCI ionisation. CST concentrations of whole eggs laid by free-range hens on days 2, 7 and 16 were 0.370 +/- 0.218, 0.259 +/- 0.066 and 0.915 +/- 0.745 ng x g(-1), respectively, while those of eggs laid by caged hens were 0.206 +/- 0.157, 0.223 +/- 0.165 and 0.184 +/- 0.110 ng x g(-1) at the above sampling times. It is concluded that in free-range laying hens the sharp changes of environmental weather conditions significantly increased the corticosterone content of eggs, while the environmentally controlled and closed battery cage management technology resulted in relatively uniform corticosterone concentrations in the whole eggs.     

Comparison of the welfare of layer hens in 4 housing systems in the UK

1. The welfare of hens in 26 flocks (6 conventional cage, 6 furnished cage, 7 barn, 7 free-range) was assessed throughout the laying period using a combination of data on physical health, physiology and injurious pecking, collected by researchers on farm and during post-mortem analysis, and information submitted by producers. 2. There was an effect of housing system on 5 of the indicators recorded by researchers: gentle feather pecks given, feather damage score, proportion of hens with feather damage, proportion of the flock using perches, and faecal corticosterone. 3. Post-mortem analysis revealed several differences between housing systems in skin damage, plumage damage to the vent and abdomen, keel protrusion, bodyweight, and the proportion of hens that were vent pecked and that had old and recent keel fractures. 4. There was an effect of housing system on 5 indicators recorded by producers: proportion of egg shells with calcification spots, proportion of egg shells with blood stains, weight of hens found dead, temporal change in the proportion of egg shells with stains, and temporal change in proportion of hens found dead. 5. Each housing system had positive and negative aspects but overall, hens in barn systems had the highest prevalence of poor plumage condition, old fractures, emaciation, abnormal egg calcification, and the highest corticosterone. Hens in conventional cages sustained more fractures at depopulation than birds in other systems. Vent pecking was most prevalent in free-range flocks. The lowest prevalence of problems occurred in hens in furnished cages. 6. Although housing system had an influence on the hens' physical condition and physiological state, the high prevalence of emaciation, loss of plumage, fractures and evidence of stress is of concern across all housing systems, and suggests that the welfare of modern genotypes is poor.     

笼养与平养蛋鸭蛋品质测定与相关性分析

试验旨在比较笼养和平养方式对不同品种蛋鸭蛋品质的影响,以期为评价不同饲养方式下的鸭蛋品质提供参考依据。随机选取40周龄笼养和平养的金定鸭（青壳蛋）和山麻鸭（白壳蛋）鸭蛋各30枚于产后24 h内进行蛋品质测定。结果表明,同一品种笼养蛋鸭蛋重极显著大于平养蛋鸭蛋重（P<0.01）,蛋重与蛋壳重、蛋白重和蛋黄重之间均存在极显著正相关（P<0.01）,但不同类型鸭蛋的蛋黄重之间差异不显著（P>0.05）。青壳蛋的蛋壳强度显著高于白壳蛋（P<0.05）,笼养青壳蛋的蛋壳强度亦高于平养青壳蛋（P<0.05）。蛋的比重与蛋壳厚度呈极显著正相关（0.503,P<0.01）,与蛋壳强度的相关系数亦达到0.536（P<0.01）。4种类型鸭蛋的哈氏单位均达到72以上。虽然蛋白重与蛋黄重之间呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,但蛋白重与蛋黄比率之间却呈极显著的负相关（P<0.01）。蛋的比重与蛋黄重和蛋黄比率之间亦存在显著负相关（P<0.05）。以上结果表明,就蛋品质而言,蛋鸭养殖以采用笼养模式、选择青壳蛋鸭品种为宜。     

Ultrastructural analysis of the eggshell: contribution of the individual calcified layers and the cuticle to hatchability and egg viability in broiler breeders

1. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the relationship between the layers of the eggshell and egg viability. The relative thickness (absolute and %) of the mammillary, palisade, vertical crystal and cuticle layers relative to the total eggshell were measured over a 30-week laying period in 2 broiler breeder lines having different hatchability rates. 2. A significant difference in hatchability of 5.5% between the breeder lines was observed. However, there was no significant difference in either egg viability or fertility between lines. 3. The relative thickness of the individual calcified layers and the cuticle did not differ between lines. Therefore, variations in the thickness of the individual eggshell layers are unlikely to explain the 5.5% difference in hatchability rate between lines. 4. The thickness of the calcified region did not alter as the broiler hen aged. However, the percent contribution of each calcified layer significantly differed over the egg production period. 5. The cuticle was significantly thinner at the beginning and at the end of the laying period compared to 38 weeks of age. 6. No significant correlation was observed between egg viability and the relative thicknesses of the mamillary, palisade or cuticle layers. In contrast, there was a positive relationship between egg viability and the thickness of the vertical crystal layer. 7. The percent contribution of the mammillary and palisade layers was similar in the thinnest and thickest eggshells, suggesting conservation of the proportions of these layers independent of eggshell thickness.     

Cuticle,shell porosity and water uptake through hens’ eggshells

1. There was no correlation between water uptake by a warm egg (37 °C) immersed in iced water and the shell's porosity as measured by water vapour conductance.

2. Eggs lacking cuticle on the shell took up more water than those having cuticle. There was no correlation between water uptake and the water vapour conductance of cuticle‐less eggshells.

3. In general there was no correlation between the amount of water taken up by an egg and the weight of cuticle on its shell. With some eggs there was an association between water uptake and the extent of fissuring of the cuticle.

4. It is postulated that the pore canals impede water flow such that osmotic forces acting across the shell membranes do not influence water uptake by eggs.

     

Determination and Correlation Analysis on the Egg Quality of Egg-laying Ducks Reared in Cages and on Floor

The purpose of this test was to evaluate the egg quality from two breeds of ducks reared in cages and on floor.30 eggs were chosen from each type of eggs,which were from Jinding (green shell) and Shan Partridge ducks (white shell)at 40 weeks-old reared in cages and on floor for egg quality evaluation.The results showed that the egg weight of caged duck was extremely significantly larger than the floor duck (P<0.01) in the same breed,there were very significant positive correlations between the egg weight and eggshell weight,egg-white weight and egg yolk weight (P<0.01),but no significant difference among the egg yolk weights of different types of ducks (P>0.05).The shell strength of green egg was obviously higher than that of white shell eggs (P<0.05),and the shell strength of green egg from caged ducks was higher than that of the green egg ducks on floor.The correlation coefficients of the egg specific gravity and eggshell thickness,the specific gravity and eggshell strength were 0.503 (P<0.01) and 0.536 (P<0.01) respectively.Haugh units of four types of ducks all reached 72 or more.Although there was significant positive correlation between egg-white weight and egg yolk weight (P<0.01),significant negative correlation was existed between egg-white weight and egg yolk ratio (P<0.01).There were significant negative correlations between egg specific gravity and egg yolk weight (P<0.05) and egg yolk ratio (P<0.05).In conclusion,the mode of cage feeding and the breed with green shell were appropriate choices in laying-egg duck production for high egg quality.     

The hen's egg: Shell cracking at oviposition in battery cages and its inheritance

It is known that there is much variation between individual hens and between strains of hen in (a) the incidence of egg‐shell cracking and (b) the height through which the egg is dropped at oviposition. Pilot experiments are described from which it is concluded that:

1. most cracks that occur in a battery cage are produced when the egg drops on to the floor at oviposition;

2. they are located predominantly in the two polar thirds of the shell;

3. their incidence is determined mainly by the effective mass of the cage floor, the mean drop height and the mean attitude of the eggs at emergence from the cloaca (broad or narrowpole first) ;it is affected only slightly by the mean shell thickness and the overall mean shell curvature (egg size);

4. if a hen is kept on a floor with a high effective mass, an indirect estimate of her mean drop height can be obtained quickly, easily and with high precision from observations made on her eggs after they have been laid; the observations required are the incidence of eggs with poorly formed shells, the type, location and incidence of cracks in eggs with well‐formed shells and the mean weight of the eggs;

5. the incidence of cracking on a heavy cage floor can be used to predict the incidence on a normal floor;

6. the incidence of cracking is heritable and responds rapidly to downward selection.

It is suggested that breeders should test the technique described, with a view to adopting it as a method of selecting for low crack incidence.