Livestock Studies 2008, Vol 48, Num, 2     (Pages: 081-091)

Effects of hen age, storage time and strech film packaging on internal and external quality traits of table eggs

Ahmet Alper YILMAZ 1 ,Zehra BOZKURT 2

1 Tiryakioğlu Yem Mermer Ltd.Şti.- AFYONKARAHİSAR
2 Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı-AFYONKARAHİSAR
- The effects of hen age, storage time and packaging with sretch film applications to the internal and external egg quality of table eggs were investigated. A total of 1680 table eggs were used and collected with two commercial layer stocks (Lohmann White) 28 and 80 weeks old age. A half of the table eggs packaged with strech film and all eggs were stored 0 (control), 15, 30 and 45 days at 22 ºC ve 45 % RH . Egg weigt, shape index, albumen index, fracture strength, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, yolk color, shell weight, shell thickness, shell weight per unit surface of shell and shell density were examined in the study. Egg weight , egg weight loss, shell weight, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, shape index, shell strength, shell thickness, shell density values were found as higher in the young hen flocks`eggs. Egg weight loss, shell strength, shell thickness, egg weight, shell density increased and egg weight, albumen index, yolk index and Haugh units and shell weight decresed as storage time increased. Packaging eggs with strech film reduced the internal quality losses resulted from prolonged storage. Keywords : Table egg, hen age, storage time, strech film, quality