Effect of different genetic groups and rearing systems on chicken egg quality parameters

A total of 60 freshly laid eggs were collected randomly from Kamrupa and indigenous chickens of Assam reared under three different systems of management viz. intensive, semi-intensive and free-range systems (10 eggs from 3 rearing systems=30 x 2 varieties=60 eggs) and were sent to the post-graduate laboratory of Department of Poultry Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 to assess different egg quality characteristics. The results indicated that the overall egg weights (gm) of Kamrupa chicken were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of indigenous chicken in different management systems. Yolk weights of indigenous chicken under different rearing systems showed no significant difference, while the corresponding values in Kamrupa chicken were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the freerange system than other two systems. The albumen weights were significantly (P<0.05) varied across genetic groups and rearing systems. The shape indices recorded in the intensive and free-range system of indigenous chicken were comparable but significantly (P<0.05) higher than the semi-intensive system. In indigenous chicken, the yolk index was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the semi-intensive system than other two systems of rearing, while in Kamrupa, the values were significantly higher in the intensive and semi-intensive than free-range system. In both the genetic groups, the albumen indices were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the intensive system than in the other two systems. The Haugh unit scores were also significantly (P<0.05) higher in intensive systems of rearing than other systems in both the genetic groups. Therefore, it may be concluded that both genetic groups and the rearing system could influence the egg quality characteristics. Keywords: Egg quality parameters, Kamrupa chicken, indigenous chicken, intensive, semi-intensive, free-range system