EFFECT OF BATTERY CAGE AND PASTURE SYSTEMS ON EGG PRODUCTION AND QUALITY PARAMETERS OF LAYING HENS

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of production systems (battery cage, pasture) on egg production and egg quality parameters. 100 Isa Brown laying hens at 50 weeks of age and 80% hen day production were assigned to treatment 1 (battery cage) at 9 birds per replicate, and to treatment 2 (pasture) at 11 birds per replicate. Treatment 1 birds were given 120g/d while treatment 2 birds were given 100g/d of proprietary feed for an experimental period of 7 weeks. Percent hen day egg production, feed intake per dozen eggs, egg weight, and yolk weight were all higher in treatment 1 than in treatment 2. Yolk colour and shell thickness were higher in treatment 2 than in treatment 1.There was no significant difference in the albumen weight, yolk width, yolk height, yolk index and shell weight. It was concluded that egg production of commercial hybrid hens was significantly lower on the pasture than in the battery cage while feed intake per dozen eggs, yolk colour and shell thickness were improved on the pasture.