Evaluation of egg production and egg quality traits of Noiler chickens

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the egg production performance and egg quality traits of Noiler chickens. A total of 135 adult Noiler hens were used for the study out of which 63 were black, 52 brown and 20 spotted. Specifically, laying characteristics, egg production and egg quality traits were assessed. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and the relationship among the parameters observed was estimated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The laying characteristics showed significant (P<0.01, P0.05) difference in age at sexual maturity (ASM), body weight at first egg (BFE), average egg number per hen (Ave. En/Hen), hen housed production (HHP) and hen day production (HDP). On the other hand, plumage colour and period on hen day production rate indicated considerable changes (P<0.01) on normal eggs and period (weeks) of production, also egg weight, egg density, shell thickness, egg surface area, albumen length, width, depth, weight and percent, yolk length, width, weight and percent and Haugh unit revealed considerable changes. The correlation coefficients among the egg quality traits and laying characteristics were in generally low and non-significant which showed that they cannot indicate each other.