Specific gravity of eggs and eggshell weight from commercial layers and broiler breeders in relation to time of oviposition

Abstract

Eggs were collected from 1 day of production of Hy-Line W36 commercial egg production hens 55 wk old. Also, eggs were collected from 1 day of production of Arbor Acres broiler breeder hens when they were 40 and 55 wk of age. The eggs were immediately weighed (EW) after collection and specific gravity (ESG) determined. The eggs were then broken and the contents removed. Shells were washed, air dried, and weighed. The weights of shells (ESW) were calculated using the following formulas: Broiler breeder ESW = 1.9128 x EW - 1.9741 EW/ESG and layer ESW = 1.9140 EW - 1.9754 EW/ESG. Shell density (ESD) was calculated using a modification of this formula. Egg weights of both commercial layers and broiler breeders were heaviest in the early morning. There was a steady decline in EW until 1545 h; EW increased thereafter. Specific gravity of eggs was highest in the morning, declined until 1245 h, and then increased thereafter. Shell weight was also highest in the morning, declined until 1245 h, and then increased thereafter. The calculated and measured ESW were highly correlated. The ESD was 2.147 and 2.160 for the commercial layers and broiler breeders, respectively.