Managing egg weight is necessary for farmers and may drastically differ relying on market demand. Acquiring an egg measurement according to market demand ensures most profit from the manufacturing.
It is very important discover the proper steadiness between market demand when it comes to egg measurement and the very best shell high quality. The next are the elements influencing egg weight.
Affect of genetics on egg weight
The heritability of the “egg weight” criterion is pretty excessive in contrast with the opposite standards, which implies that it’s potential to affect egg weight from one era to the following. Genetic choice is necessary in terms of growing egg measurement quickly in the beginning of manufacturing, with a view to acquire marketable eggs as shortly as potential. This additionally helps in stabilising egg weight on the finish of the manufacturing cycle to maximise the variety of top-quality eggs.
Managing physique weight throughout rearing is a key to handle future egg weight
Flock administration from the start of the rearing interval can have a significant affect on egg weight Physique weight at sexual maturity and at mild stimulation will play a vital position within the weight of future eggs.
A number of research have proven that early mild stimulation induces a decrease physique weight at sexual maturity, and due to this fact a decrease egg weight. Morris (1980) and Koutoulis (1997) have proven {that a} variation in sexual maturity of one-week leads to a variation in egg weight of 1 g and within the variety of eggs of roughly 5 (5) eggs at 74 weeks of age. The desk beneath exhibits {that a} 100 g increment or decrement in pullet weight at sexual maturity leads to a change of about 1 g of egg weight.
Affect of pullet physique weight at 127 days on manufacturing efficiency
In an effort to acquire an egg weight according to the market demand, you will need to test the burden of the pullets on a weekly foundation from Week 1. Weighing pullets at switch, even when they attain the usual physique weight doesn’t imply {that a} good physique weight has been achieved, as it might additionally imply that some hens are too fats. To acquire dependable knowledge on physique weight, the pullet’s weight ought to be recorded from Week 1. This can make sure that physique growth and progress have been passable all through the rearing interval. Additionally, the physique weight at 7 weeks of age and earlier than is sweet (muscle mass, organs, skeleton) and that is the very best time to speculate to advertise pullet progress. At round 8/10 weeks of age, pullets begin to retailer extra vitality of their fats reserves, primarily within the type of stomach fats.
Due to this fact, physique weight data is significant because it facilitates flock monitoring and permits to regulate the lighting programme. Right adjustment of the lighting programme will assist acquire the specified sexual maturity whereas preserving in thoughts that it’s also necessary to keep up progress through the begin of manufacturing as much as the age of 30 weeks. The lighting programme is designed so that every one the hens begin laying on the similar time. Adjusting this timing adjusts the long run weight of the eggs.
Managing egg weight with diet
Diet can have a substantial impression on egg weight. Totally different dietary strategies may be utilized to attain the specified egg weight:
- Egg weight is influenced by the oil content material of the feed. Oil has a transparent impression (direct or oblique) on egg weight. This pertains to added fats not included within the uncooked supplies. To cut back egg weight, decreasing the quantity of added oil/fats may be an possibility. Growing the fats content material within the food plan doesn’t appear to have an effect on the variety of eggs produced. Nevertheless, egg weight will increase considerably, particularly originally of the laying interval. Oils wealthy in polyunsaturated fatty acids have a better impression on egg weight increment.
- Power ranges appear to affect egg weight. In response to our inner meta-analysis, a rise of 100 kcal can enhance egg weight by a mean of 0.85%, even when feed consumption is decrease. Lowering vitality consumption by lowering the vitality in feed may assist cut back the common weight and the chance of fatty hens.
- Methionine is the amino acid that influences egg weight essentially the most. The Methionine/Lysine ratio may be adjusted in keeping with the anticipated egg weight profile. To cut back egg weight, it’s needed to scale back the quantity of methionine (decrease Met/Lys ratio).
- Protein ranges additionally seem to have an effect on egg weight. Our personal meta-analysis exhibits that an increment of 1% crude protein can enhance egg weight by 1.65%. This impression is smaller than that of methionine however shouldn’t be missed.
- Presentation of the food plan has an affect on egg weight, layers have desire for coarse particles and tends to depart the nice particles behind. Furthermore, feed granulometry play a vital position in feed consumption. Growing the quantity of nice particles within the feed might help in decreasing egg weight by way of a discount of the feed consumption, however it may additionally result in a discount in egg manufacturing.
- All this dietary recommendation ought to be evaluated often with native nutritionist and/or feed provider to regulate egg weights in keeping with market demand.
Local weather situation
Temperature additionally has an affect on egg weight: above 22-23°C, egg weight begins to lower. Between 24 and 28°C, egg weight is lowered by 0.4% per °C; past 28°C, egg weight is lowered by 0.8% per °C. It’s primarily influenced by a discount of feed consumption because of the warmth, impacting egg weight in addition to egg manufacturing.
In sizzling climates, it’s due to this fact necessary to have good temperature administration by way of air flow and feed administration. Excessive temperatures also can trigger warmth stress for the animals.
Conclusion
With a transparent understanding of the market demand, pullet administration may be adjusted to fulfill and outline the common egg weight profile. It’s at all times simpler to extend egg weight by way of diet or administration than the opposite approach round. In reality, when the hens are too previous, wanting to scale back egg weight can imply decreasing manufacturing.
Lastly, the continual genetic progress made by NOVOGEN has allowed vital positive aspects in each egg manufacturing and egg high quality. It has additionally made it potential to have sturdy and resilient birds in all circumstances of manufacturing. Nonetheless, with a view to fulfil the layers’ genetic potential, the administration and diet of the flock have to be carefully monitored, tailored to the native atmosphere and market calls for.
