Avaliação da qualidade de ovos de poedeiras comerciais em diferentes densidades populacionais

Abstract

With the objective to evaluate the eggs quality of laying hens under different conditions (ambient temperature and cooling), storage time (7, 14 and 21 days), ages (35, 40, 45 and 50 weeks) and densities (G1 = 625, G2 = 500, G3 = 416.6 and G4 = 357.14 cm2/hen), we analyzed the Haugh unit (HU) of 1,120 eggs from 528 laying hens strain Dekalb White arranged in four groups, in design completely randomized factorial arrangement 2x3x4x4. And in order to study the population density in laying hens and its influence on the productive aspects, 528 birds were housed in cages with dimensions of 100cm x 50cm x 40cm in a completely randomized design with four groups arranged in a 4x4 factorial with 8, 10, 12 and 14 laying hens, representing 625, 500, 416.6 and 357.14 cm2/hen. The results on the quality of eggs that showed no significant effect (P<0.01) between time and storage conditions, and interaction between time and storage conditions (P<0.01). Significant effects (P<0.05) in Haugh unit eggs laying hens between the ages, densities and storage conditions. The eggs were stored at less weight loss and better rates of Haugh unit, when compared to eggs stored at room temperature. Increasing the period of storage of eggs, regardless of storage temperature, caused a loss in egg quality. The results for the average egg production per hen housed according to the type of egg and the group showed statistically significant differences (P>0.05) on production in five moments, only the third type of egg. There was no difference between groups (P>0.05) for the average production of eggs per week. According to the results of this study, we conclude that the condition and storage time, the population density and age of laying hens, had an influence on Haugh unit and population density of 625 cm2/hen, was recommended for obtaining the best quality of eggs. For Dekalb White hens strain, the use of cages with the population density of 357.14, 416.6, 500 and 625 cm2/hen, in the production stage, did not affect the quality parameters in the productive aspects.