Reproductive and egg composition traits evaluation in breeder Emu flock
2014
Saini, Samita | Sethi, A.P.S. | Chaudhary, M.L.
Frequency distribution of egg weight for eggs laid during 29–33 months of age followed normal distribution. Except egg weight, external egg quality traits of length, width, shape index and specific gravity showed significant differences between months of laying indicating that the egg weight is not affected by the stage of laying cycle but the egg size and shell quality are affected. Absolute weight loss and percentage weight loss in egg weight during incubation were higher in the month of January and were lowest during the month of March. The average hatchability of the eggs on total egg set basis was 62.0%. Out of total eggs set for incubation 5.6% eggs were infertile, 10.6% were dirty, 1.4% had early stage embryo mortality and 13.9% had late stage embryo mortality during incubation. Comparative evaluation of egg quality and physical composition was done in Emu, Rhode Island Red layer, broiler, Japanese and Punjab white quail birds. Emu eggs are much larger in size, more oval, have better egg shell quality but poor vitelline membrane properties and yolk quality than chicken and quails. The physical composition of emu eggs is different from the chicken and quail eggs in terms of albumen, yolk and shell content. Emu eggs have higher yolk and shell content and lower yolk content as indicated from the percentages of the egg contents. Therefore emu egg weight is not affected by the stage of laying cycle but the egg size and shell quality was affected. Incubation loss in weight of eggs was significant for different stages of laying cycle. The average hatchability of the emu eggs was moderate and their composition was different from the chicken and quail eggs in terms of albumen, yolk and shell content.
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