The effects of housing systems and age of hens on the weight and cholesterol concentration of the egg

• Published in: Czech Journal of Animal Science Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 110 - 115
• Main Authors: Zemkova, L.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Agronomicka Fakulta, Simeonovova, J.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Agronomicka Fakulta, Lichovnikova, M.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Agronomicka Fakulta, Somerlikova, K.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Agronomicka Fakulta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 01-04-2007
• Subjects: AGE; ALOJAMIENTO PARA AVES; BATTERY CAGES; CAGE D'ELEVAGE EN BATTERIE; CHOLESTEROL; COLESTEROL; conventional cages; CRIA DE AVES DE CORRAL; CRIANZA EN CAMA PROFUNDA; DEEP LITTER HUSBANDRY; EDAD; egg weight; EGG YOLK; EGGS; ELEVAGE DE VOLAILLES; ELEVAGE SUR LITIERE PROFONDE; enriched cages; GALLINA PONEDORA; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_12109; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1584; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_186; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2150; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2501; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2502; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6146; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6148; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8349; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_843; HUEVOS; JAULAS CON BATERIA; JAUNE D'OEUF; LAYER CHICKENS; litter system; LOGEMENT DES VOLAILLES; OEUF; outdoor system; PESO; POIDS; POULE PONDEUSE; POULTRY FARMING; POULTRY HOUSING; WEIGHT; YEMA DE HUEVO; yolk cholesterol
• ISSN: 1212-1819; 1805-9309
• DOI: 10.17221/2269-cjas

The effects of age and housing (conventional cages, enriched cages, litter system and outdoor system) on egg weight and cholesterol concentration were studied in ISA brown laying hens. The characteristics were measured at 39, 50, 59, 68 and 75 weeks of age. Fifteen eggs were collected from each housing system. Egg weight was not influenced either by the age of the birds or by the housing system. On the contrary, the studied factors had a significant effect on both yolk and egg cholesterol concentrations. Cholesterol concentrations were the lowest in the enriched cages (12.5 mg/g yolk and 211.2 mg/egg) and the highest in the litter technology (14.1 mg/g yolk and 242.6 mg/egg). Further, there was a significant influence of the interaction between the housing system and the age of hens on egg weight and on yolk and egg cholesterol concentration.