Evaluation of egg quality traits in indigenous Kadaknath breed of poultry

S N S Parmar, M S Thakur, S S Tomar and P V A Pillai

Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry,
JNKVV, Jabalpur (M. P.), India- 482001
drmohansingh@gmail.com
 

Abstract

The 2206 eggs collected from two field survey centres [Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) and Jhabua-II (Jobat)] of district Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh) were studied to assess the egg quality characteristics of Kadaknath breed.

The overall average dark brown shell colour pooled for two centres was 67.87 percent, followed by light brown shell color, which was 32.12 percent. The 65.39 percent of eggs were strong shelled, 32.06 percent medium and 2.56 percent brittle shelled. The mean shell thickness, shape index, albumin index, haugh unit, yolk index, yolk weight and albumin weight pooled for both the centres were found to be 0.31mm, 73.93, 7.03, 73.77, 37.07, 14.77g and 20.74 g respectively. Most of the egg quality traits studied at farmers door were found to be inferior when compared with Kadaknath birds maintained at poultry breeding farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government Poultry Breeding farm, Jhabua, which indicates that better management practices can improve the egg quality characteristics of birds reared by farmers under field conditions.

Key words: egg quality, egg shell thickness, haugh unit, Kadaknath, yolk index

Introduction

Indigenous poultry birds are well adapted to harsh environment of free range and they produce eggs and meat at least possible cost. The Kadaknath indigenous breed of poultry is being reared by tribals living in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh (India). The birds require no extra care and housing which makes them suitable for backyard poultry farming. Evaluation of the external and internal quality of chicken eggs is important because of consumer preferences for better quality eggs. It is generally agreed that all characteristics of egg quality have a genetic basis. Egg quality has been defined by Stadelman (1977) as the characteristics of an egg that affect its acceptability to the consumers. Egg quality is the more important price contributing factor in table and hatching eggs. Therefore, the economic success of a laying flock solely depends on the total number of quality eggs produced. Quality of chicken eggs may vary due to several factors like rearing, temperature, relative humidity and season. The present investigation was undertaken to assess the various egg quality characteristics in indigenous Kadaknath breed of poultry at farmers' door in Jhabua district of M.P.

Materials and methods

The present investigation was conducted under ICAR Ad-hoc project to assess the egg quality characteristics of Kadaknath breed at two field survey centres [Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) and Jhabua-II (Jobat)] of district Jhabua (M.P.). The total number of 2206 eggs collected from farmers door were studied for various egg quality traits. The external characters of eggs like the egg weights, the length and width of the eggs were measured. After measuring the external characters, the eggs were broken open on the egg breaking stand for measuring their qualities. The height of the thick albumin and yolk were measured using an Ames tripod stand micrometer, as described by Haugh (1937). The length and width of the thick white and yolk were measured using a dial caliper and the mean diameters were calculated. Thereafter, the yolk was gently separated from the albumin, adherent albumin was removed by rolling the yolks over a filter paper and the yolk weight was recorded. The eggs shell were washed to remove the adhering albumin and their thickness were measured. The differences between weight- (shell weight + yolk weight) were reckoned as albumin weight. The mean values were calculated for each traits, according to Snedecor and Cochran (1989). The eggs qualities traits like shell colour, shell strength, shell thickness, egg weight, shape index, albumin index, yolk index, yolk weight and albumin weight were estimated (Singh and Panda 1987). Haugh unit score, a measure of internal quality of egg was also computed (Kondaiah et al 1983).

The various indices of egg quality traits were calculated by using following formulae as described by Singh (1985).

Results and discussion

The overall averages for various egg quality traits obtained at farmer's door from two-field survey centres [i.e. Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) and Jhabua-II (Jobat)] of a tribal district Jhabua of Madhya Pradesh are presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Shell colour

The brown shell colour (70.62%) was most frequent as compare to light brown shell colour which was found to be 29.38% in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), whereas in Jhabua-II (Jobat) the brown and light brown shell colour were found to be 65.11% and 34.89% respectively (Tables 1 and 2).

The overall average for shell colour as shown in the Table 3, the dark brown shell colour was most frequently (67.87%) observed in eggs of Kadaknath birds followed by light brown Colour (32.12 %).

Shell strength

In district Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), strong-shelled eggs were found to be most frequent (63.72%) as compare to medium (33.37 %) and brittle (2.91 %, whereas in Jhabua-II (Jobat) strong, medium and brittle shelled eggs were found to be 67.06%, 30.74% and 2.21% respectively (Tables 1 and 2). On the overall basis for both the centres, the 65.39 % were strong shelled and 32.06 % were medium shelled while 2.56 % were brittle shelled in both the districts, Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) and Jhabua-II (Jobat) (Table 3).

Shell thickness

The mean shell thickness ranged from 0.29 to 0.32 mm with an average of 0.31 in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), whereas, in Jhabua-II (Jobat) the mean shell thickness ranged from 0.29 to 0.32 mm with an average of 0.31 mm. The overall mean shell thickness pooled for both the districts was found to be 0.31 mm. The Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua also had almost same mean shell thickness (0.32mm and 0.33mm respectively). The highest shell thickness (0.32mm) was observed in Kalyanpura and Udaygarh centres and lowest (0.29mm) was observed in Jhabua and Bori centres.

Padhi et al (1998) reported higher shell thickness (0.31) in Nicobari indigenous fowl, as compared to (0.31 mm) shell thickness observed in the present study for Kadaknath breed of poultry.

Egg weight

In general Kadaknath bird lays much smaller egg. The higher average mean egg weight for Jhabua-II (Jobat) found to be 42.67g. The egg weight fir this centre ranging from 41.28 g to 45.41 g was observed in Jhabua-II (Jobat) centre, whereas in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) the average mean egg weight was found to be 41.99 g with a range of 40.87 g to 42.86 g. The overall average mean egg weight pooled for both the district was found to be 42.33g. The mean egg weight (42.69 g) was found in Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm Jhabua. Among the zones highest mean egg weight (45.41 g) was observed in Bori and lowest (40.87 g) in Jhabua centre.

Singh et al (2000) studied various reproduction and production performance traits of Aseel birds under field condition and they reported average egg weight of Aseel as 41 g, which is similar to the Kadaknath birds.

Mathivanan and Selvaraj (2003) reported higher body weight (60.23 g) in White Leghorn layer as compare to Kadaknath birds.

Shape index

The average mean shape index value was observed to be 74.35 ranging from 73.56 to 75.66 in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), whereas, in Jhabua-II (Jobat) the average mean shape index was found to be 73.55 with range of 71.55 to 75.28 The overall mean shape index pooled for both the district was found to be 73.95. Closely similar results 74.22 were observed in Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua.

Sakunthaladevi and Reddy (2004) reported shape index (72.52) in White Leghorn layers, which is similar to the present study.

Albumen index

The higher average mean albumen index of 8.52 with range of 8.04 to 8.98 was observed in district Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), whereas in Jhabua-II (Jobat) the average mean albumen index was found to be 5.54 with a range of 4.46 to 6.14. The overall average mean albumen index pooled for both the district was found to be 7.03. As compared to the field, higher mean albumen index 9.54 was observed in Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua.

Subramanian et al (2001) reported higher albumin index (7.3) in free ranging peahen. This higher value in peahen suggesting that the peahen egg is broader and rounder than the egg of Kadaknath birds.

Haugh unit

The higher average haugh unit of 80.24 with the range of 78.63 to 81.96 was found in Jhabua-I(Meghnagar), whereas in Jhabua-II(Jobat) the mean haugh unit was 67.30 with the range of 62.58 to 69.55. The overall mean haugh unit pooled for both the district was found to be 73.77. The highest mean haugh unit (81.96) was observed in Thandla centre and the lowest (62.58) was observed in Bhabra centre. Comparatively higher mean haugh unit.90 was found in Poultry Farm, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua. Padhi et al (1998) reported Haugh unit of 75.15 and 73.16 in Nicobari and Naked Neck desi breeds of poultry.

Sakunthaladevi and Reddy (2005) reported Hough unit 73 and 74 in White Leghorn and crossbred chicken, which are quite close to the results reported in the present study.

Yolk index

The overall mean yolk index was observed to be 37.07 pooled for both the districts. Higher average mean yolk index of 37.53 with the range of 37.12 to 38.10 was observed in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar), whereas in Jhabua-II (Jobat) the average mean yolk index was found to be 36.60 with the range of 35.07 to 38.03. Among different zones, the highest mean yolk index (38.10) was observed in Thandla centre whereas, lowest (35.07) was observed in Udaygarh centre. Comparatively higher mean yolk index 43.01 was observed in Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua.

Yolk weight

The mean yolk weight was found to be 15.18 g with the range of 14.75 g to 15.38 g in Jhabua- I (Meghnagar), whereas mean yolk weight of 14.36 g ranging from 14.02 g to 14.82 g was found in Jhabua-II (Jobat). Relatively lower yolk weight 13.67 g was recorded from Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government Poultry breeding farm, Jhabua. The overall mean yolk weight pooled for both the districts was found to be 14.77 g.

Albumen weight

The overall mean albumen weight pooled for both the districts was found to be 20.74 g. The higher mean albumen weights were recorded in Poultry Farm, Veterinary College, Jabalpur and Government poultry breeding farm, Jhabua, which was found to be 24.76 g. The average mean albumen weight in Jhabua-I (Meghnagar) and Jhabua-II (Jobat) were found to be 21.27 and 20.20 g with the ranges of 20.57 g to 22.45 g and 19.05 g to 21.48 g respectively.

References

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Received 27 June 2006; Accepted 6 August 2006; Published 14 September 2006

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