Effect of laying month on egg quality in the Utrerana chicken breed (Partridge variety) during the first laying period

Abstract

The Utrerana chicken is an endangered egg-producing breed native to Spain with four feather varieties that display productive seasonality. To fill the gap in knowledge on the seasonal variation in egg quality, 378 eggs were collected during the entire first laying period, between March and August, from an experimental flock of hens of the Partridge variety of the Utrerana breed and subsequently analysed to assess the effect of the laying month on external and external egg quality traits. The eggs, with an average weight of 61.66 g and sharp shape (shape index: 70.77), had 31.64% yolk, 56.59% albumen, and 11.77% white-coloured shell 0.43 mm in thickness. The egg yolk was light orange in colour (Roche fan score: 10.56) with a yolk index of 37.78%, whereas the albumen was moderately firm (Haugh units: 69.12). The egg yield was seasonal and peaked in the second month of the laying period, with a hen-day egg production of 61.4%. Throughout the first laying period, egg weight and eggshell content remained invariable and yolk content increased, whereas its quality and colour intensity worsened, and albumen content and quality decreased as a consequence of aging and increasing ambient temperature. In conclusion, the Partridge variety of the Utrerana chicken breed can be considered suitable for alternative farming systems because it lays good-quality eggs at a moderate seasonal laying rate.

Keywords:

• Autochthonous breed
• laying hen
• laying period
• internal egg traits
• external egg traits

Reviewing editor:

• M. Luisa Escudero-Gilete, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Subjects:

• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences; Food Chemistry; Zoology

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Gallinas Utreranas, Mr. José Montoya, and Mr. Antonio Plata for donating the hens from which eggs were collected.

Author contributions

A.H. and P.G.-R. conceived the experiment, obtained the resources, performed and supervised the experimental work, analyzed the data, interpreted the results, and wrote the manuscript. Y.G.-R. and C.A.S.-R. performed the experiment, obtained and prepared the data. All authors read, reviewed, and agreed to the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, P.G.-R., upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Notes on contributors

Pedro González-Redondo

Pedro González-Redondo is a Full Professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering of the University of Seville, Spain. His research career focusses mainly on rabbit, poultry and game farming, as well as incubation technology.

Yolanda García-Arias

Yolanda García-Arias is an Agricultural Engineer (BSc).

Clara Ariza Sánchez-Ramade

Clara Ariza Sánchez-Ramade is an Agricultural Engineer (BSc).

Alberto Horcada

Alberto Horcada is a Lecturer at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering of the University of Seville, Spain. His research career focusses on the characterization of quality products (mainly meat) of native breeds of farm animals to guarantee their maintenance and development.