Managing egg weight is essential for farmers and might vastly range relying on market demand. Acquiring an egg dimension consistent with market demand ensures most profit from the manufacturing.
You will need to discover the appropriate stability between market demand when it comes to egg dimension and the very best shell high quality. The next are the components 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 signifies that it’s potential to affect egg weight from one era to the subsequent. Genetic choice is essential relating to rising egg dimension quickly initially of manufacturing, to be able 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 serious affect on egg weight Physique weight at sexual maturity and at gentle stimulation will play an important function within the weight of future eggs.
A number of research have proven that early gentle 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 reveals {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
So as to acquire an egg weight consistent with the market demand, you will need to verify the load 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 could additionally imply that some hens are too fats. To acquire dependable knowledge on physique weight, the pullet’s weight needs to be recorded from Week 1. This may 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 tissue, organs, skeleton) and that is the very best time to take a position to advertise pullet progress. At round 8/10 weeks of age, pullets begin to retailer extra power of their fats reserves, primarily within the type of belly fats.
Subsequently, physique weight info is significant because it facilitates flock monitoring and permits to regulate the lighting programme. Appropriate adjustment of the lighting programme will assist acquire the specified sexual maturity whereas maintaining in thoughts that additionally it is essential to take care of progress in the course of 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 identical time. Adjusting this timing adjusts the long run weight of the eggs.
Managing egg weight with diet
Vitamin can have a substantial influence on egg weight. Totally different dietary methods will be utilized to realize the specified egg weight:
- Egg weight is influenced by the oil content material of the feed. Oil has a transparent influence (direct or oblique) on egg weight. This pertains to added fats not included within the uncooked supplies. To scale back egg weight, lowering the quantity of added oil/fats will be an choice. Growing the fats content material within the food plan doesn’t appear to have an effect on the variety of eggs produced. Nonetheless, egg weight will increase considerably, particularly originally of the laying interval. Oils wealthy in polyunsaturated fatty acids have a higher influence on egg weight increment.
- Power ranges appear to affect egg weight. In response to our inside meta-analysis, a rise of 100 kcal can improve egg weight by a mean of 0.85%, even when feed consumption is decrease. Lowering power consumption by reducing the power in feed might assist scale back the typical weight and the chance of fatty hens.
- Methionine is the amino acid that influences egg weight probably the most. The Methionine/Lysine ratio will be adjusted in accordance with the anticipated egg weight profile. To scale back egg weight, it’s essential to cut back the quantity of methionine (decrease Met/Lys ratio).
- Protein ranges additionally seem to have an effect on egg weight. Our personal meta-analysis reveals that an increment of 1% crude protein can improve egg weight by 1.65%. This influence is smaller than that of methionine however shouldn’t be neglected.
- Presentation of the food plan has an affect on egg weight, layers have choice for coarse particles and tends to depart the high quality particles behind. Furthermore, feed granulometry play an important function in feed consumption. Growing the quantity of high quality particles within the feed might help in lowering egg weight through a discount of the feed consumption, but it surely might additionally result in a discount in egg manufacturing.
- All this dietary recommendation needs to be evaluated frequently with native nutritionist and/or feed provider to regulate egg weights in accordance 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 as a result of warmth, impacting egg weight in addition to egg manufacturing.
In scorching climates, it’s due to this fact essential to have good temperature administration via air flow and feed administration. Excessive temperatures can even trigger warmth stress for the animals.
Conclusion
With a transparent understanding of the market demand, pullet administration will be adjusted to satisfy and outline the typical egg weight profile. It’s all the time simpler to extend egg weight via diet or administration than the opposite manner round. In truth, when the hens are too previous, wanting to cut back egg weight can imply lowering manufacturing.
Lastly, the continual genetic progress made by NOVOGEN has allowed important beneficial properties 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, to be able 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.
