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Egg Size and Shell Damage |
 
Who saw this article? New!
Author: Carlyle Bennett
Everyone knows that eggs get larger and cracks increase as laying flocks age.
These well known facts, however, are sometimes used to support the belief that
most cracked egg problems in older flocks are caused by excessive egg size
In Figure 1, you can see the percentage of cracks found in eggs of different sizes
in a survey of 24 flocks in Saskatchewan. At both 55 and 66 weeks of age, the
Extra Large and Jumbo sized eggs had 1% to 2% higher cracks than the Large sized
eggs. The higher level of shell damage in the Extra Large and Jumbo sized eggs,
however, had a limited effect on the total number of cracks in these older flocks.
As an example, at 66 weeks of age, the flock with the biggest eggs had 71.5% Extra
Large plus Jumbo sized eggs compared to 25.5% in the flock with the smallest eggs.
While the difference in egg size was dramatic, it would only result in 0.5% to
1.0% higher cracks in the flock with the largest eggs. In the past, people have
blamed egg size for problems where cracks were elevated by 3%, 4% and even 5%.
Excess cracks in the Extra Large and Jumbo sized eggs can occur in older flocks
on farms where mechanical egg packers are used. At 66 weeks of age, the flocks
using packers had 4% to 6% higher cracks in the Extra Large and Jumbo sized eggs
than in the Large sized eggs (See Figure 2). With mechanical packers the effect
of egg size on breakage is more significant. As an example, a 66 week old flock
with 71% Extra Large plus Jumbo sized eggs would be expected to have 2% higher
cracks than a flock with only 25% Extra large plus Jumbos. Comparing an old flock
with very large eggs to one with average sized eggs, (say 71% versus 47% Extra
Large plus Jumbos), you would expect the flock with the larger eggs to have 1%
more total cracks. The increased breakage in Extra Large and Jumbo sized eggs
is economically important but may not explain as many of the cracked egg problems
as previously thought.
When investigating the cause of cracked eggs, it is important to estimate the
effect of egg size on breakage by weighing the cracked and non-cracked eggs.
Adapted from Saskatchewan Poultry Poniters
June 2002
Carlyle Bennett
Poultry Specialist
Manitoba Agriculture and Food
Animal Industry Branch
Agricultural Services Complex
545 University Crescent
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6
Author: Carlyle Bennett
Who saw this article? New!
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