TABLE EGG PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

To analyze table egg production and quality, research was performed on a poultry farm in the vicinity of Kruševac City. During the trial 60 ISA Brown hens aged between 51 and 59 weeks were monitored. Hens were housed in cage system. There were five hens in every cage. Delivery of water for drinking was automatized while the feed distribution was manual. Twice a day (morning and afternoon) and total feed amount was 3.6 kg per single distribution. During the trial, feed consumption, egg production, and egg quality were observed. The trial consisted of three-week intervals, respectively, at ages 51–53, 54–56, and 57–59 weeks. The differences between the monitored intervals were not statistically significant for average feed consumption, egg size (weight, height, width, and shape index), or the weight of the egg white, yolk, and shell (p>0.05). Egg laying was statistically significantly higher in the first two trial intervals compared to the third (p<0.05). The average number of eggs laid during the trial period was 57.43, 57.19, and 54.62, respectively. For most monitored parameters, statistically significant and highly significant correlations were noted (p<0.05, p<0.01). The Pearson correlation coefficients between egg weight and both outer and inner indicators of egg quality ranged from r = 0.363 to r = 0.877 throughout the entire trial period.