EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LINES OF LOCAL IRAQI CHICKEN AND ISA BROWN ON EGG INTERNAL QUALITY

Assiut University web-site: www.aun.edu.eg

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LINES OF LOCAL IRAQI CHICKEN AND ISA BROWN ON EGG INTERNAL QUALITY

SHWAN S. ABDULLA¹; SHAHLA M.S. KIRKUKI²; REKAWT M. MOHAMMAD³ and SHOKHAN M. ALI⁴

^1,3,4 Sulaimani Research Station–Director of Agricultural Research, Sulaimani, Iraq.

² Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sulaimani University, Sulaimani, Iraq.

Received: 17 December 2015;    Accepted: 14January 2016

INTRODUCTION

In general, the characteristics of egg quality have a genetic basis (McFerran and Adair, 2003; Jones, 2006; Hermiz et al., 2012; Hanusová et al., 2015). This difference between strains was reflected in the percentages of the components (Scott and Silversides, 2000). Genetic differences in eggshell quality characteristics exist between species, and between breeds, strains and families within the lines (Buss, 1982). Egg weight is very different between various lines and eggshell thickness is under great influence of line (Pandey et al., 1986). Genotype has direct influence on egg weight and eggshell characteristics. Many studies showed that hens with colored feathers lay bigger eggs than hens with white feathers (Halaj and Grofík, 1994; Vits et al., 2005; Halaj and Golian, 2011). The difference between strains was reflected in the percentages of the components (Scott and Silversides, 2000). Egg weight

Corresponding author: Dr. Shahla M.S. Kirkuki

E-mail address: shahlan26@gmail.com

Present address: Sulaimani Research Station–Director of Agricultural Research, Sulaimani, Iraq

is genetically linked to all three of the major components: shell, albumen, and yolk. Likewise, Washburn (1990) summarized literature to show that the link between egg weight and albumen weight is higher than those between egg weight and shell or yolk weight. Fletcher et al. (1981 and1983) showed that as egg size increases, so does the percentage of albumen. Zita et al. (2009) reported that genotype also affected mainly egg weight. Some of the authors have also shown a correlation between egg weight and egg quality parameters including yolk percentage, yolk weight and albumin weight (Hartmann et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2005).

This study aimed to determine the effect of different groups of Iraqi local chickens grouped by the color of feathers with Isa Brown on egg weight and egg internal quality and their correlations coefficient. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eggs internal quality was determined of three groups of Iraqi local chickens (Pure Black= group1; Black with Brown Neck= group2; White= group 3) and Isa Brown at 70-80 weeks old were used in the present study. Chicken groups were reared under same management condition at Sulaimani Research Station–Director of Agricultural Research. A total of 500 eggs were collected immediately after lay and weighted individually, After the eggs were broken egg shells were weighted (with membrane) after dried, and its percentage were measured using the equation:

Shells percentage = (shells weight / egg weight) X 100.

Shell thickness (with membrane) was measured at the three parts sharp poles, blunt poles and equatorial parts of each egg and obtained from the average values of these parts. Yolk weight with accuracy balance was determined and its percentage proportion was calculated by this equation:

Yolk percentage = (yolk weight / egg weight) x100.

The albumen weight was calculated from the difference between the egg weight, and the yolk and shell weight. The percentage proportion of the albumen in the egg was also determined by this equation:

Albumin percentage = (albumin weight / egg weight) x 100.

Statistical Analysis

The analysis of variance was done for all recorded Data to find out the differences between lines Statistical Program PASW Statistics Student Version 18 SPSS. An ANOVA using the general linear models procedure included the main effects of strains on some external eggs traits. Duncan Multiple Range Test (Duncan, 1955) was used to test the significant differences between the means of the levels. The simple correlations between external eggs traits were estimated by SPSS computer program.

RESULTS

Effect of lines on egg weight, egg yolk and albumin was significantly (p<0.05), while, the yolk and albumin percentages did not affected by different lines (Table 1). Egg weight of line 2 and 3 (62.30 and 62.29) was heavier than strain 1 and 4 (59.56 and 58.40g), respectively. Chickens in line 3 revealed significantly (p<0.05) heavier egg yolk weight (20.47g) than line 1 and line 4 (18.59 and 18.85g), respectively. While, the albumin weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in local lines compared with Isa Brown. Yolk and albumin percentages of eggs did not significantly differ between lines.

Table 1: Effect of different groups on egg weight, yolk weight, albumin weight, yolk percentage and albumin percentage.

*^a–b For each means of same traits in each column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

The results of egg shell weight, shell thickness and shell percentage of different lines were shown in (Table 2). Non-significant effects of lines were observed on egg shell quality. However, the line 2 and 3 (5.83 and 5.76g), respectively followed by line 4 (5.57g) numerically higher than line 1 (5.32g).

Table 2: Effect of different groups on egg shell weight, thickness and percentage.

*^a–b For each means of same traits in each column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

There were a positive values of correlation (0.88) and (0.63) (p<0.01) and (0.59) (p<0.05) between egg weight with yolk, albumin and shell weight, respectively. Yolk weight correlation with shell weight was significant (p<0.01), while non-significant negative correlation was found between albumin weight and shell weight. However, the negative coefficients correlation between shell thickness and all parameters except shell weight (Table 3).

Table 3: Simple coefficient correlations of egg, yolk, albumin, and shell weight and shell thickness.

**.Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Table (4) shows that the correlation between egg weight and its component percentages positively high except with albumin percentage. The correlations between yolk percentage with albumin percentage and albumin percentage with shell percentage negatively significant (p<0.01).

Table 4: Simple coefficient correlation between egg weight and yolk, albumin and shell percentages.

**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.

DISCUSSION

Effect of lines on egg weight, egg yolk and albumin was significantly, while, the yolk and albumin percentages did not affected by different lines. Egg weights of lines 2 and 3 were heavier than lines 1 and 4 (Table 1), which attributed to difference of genotype as reported by Halaj and Grofík (1994); Vits et al. (2005); Halaj and Golian (2011) whom found that the genotype has direct influence on egg weight and hens with coloured feathers lay bigger eggs than hens with white feathers. In addition, Pandey et al. (1986) reported that egg weight is much differed widely between various lines. Hermiz et al. (2012) also found that Black with Brown Neck have heavier egg weight than Pure Black and Isa Brown, but in contraries about egg weight produced by White line. In study by Hanusová et al. (2015) observed that the egg weight was significantly (P ≤0.01) affected by the breed. The genetic differences between strains for egg weight were reported by Carter and Jones (1970); Potts et al. (1974); Arafa et al. (1982); Scott and Silversides (2000); Monira et al. (2003). Chickens in line 3 revealed significantly (p<0.05) heavier egg yolk weight (20.47g) than line 1 and line 4, While, the albumin weight was higher in local lines compared with Isa Brown. Olawumi and Ogunlade (2009) and Kabir et al. (2014) attributed the significant (P<0.05) difference in the two lines of yolk and albumin weight to variation in genetic. Hanusová et al. (2015) reported that yolk and albumin weights significantly differed (P ≤0.01) between breeds. Although, albumin weight significantly differs between strains and the yolk weights of eggs did not differ (Tharrington et al., 1999). Yolk and albumin percentage of eggs did not significantly differ between strains. Hanusová et al. (2015) also found no significant differences between breeds on yolk and albumin percentage. In contrasts, significant differences were shown between lines (Hermiz et al., 2012) and between strains (Tharrington et al., 1999) in yolk and albumin percentage.

Non-significant effects of lines were observed on egg shell quality (Table 2), these results were in contrasts with Hanusová et al. (2015) who found that egg shell quality in laying hens is influenced significantly by strain of chicken. Tharrington et al. (1999) found although shell weight significantly affected by strains while, the shell percentage did not affected. Pandey et al. (1986) and Monira et al. (2003) attributed the significant differences in shell thickness to breeds differences. Strain effect was significant (P<0.05) for all egg shell weight and thickness (Kabir et al., 2014).

There were a positive values of correlation (0.83) and (0.63) (p<0.01) and (0.59) (p<0.05) between egg weight with yolk, albumin and shell weights, respectively (Table 3). Yolk weight correlation with shell weight was significant (p<0.01), while non-significant negative correlation was found between albumin weight and shell weight. However, the negative correlation coefficients between shell thickness and all parameters except shell weight. Kul and Seker (2004) found significant positive phenotypic correlation between shell weight and shell thickness. Likewise, Scott and Silversides (2000) show that the albumen weight was closely associated egg weight. The correlation coefficients between egg weight and yolk and shell weights were lower than that between egg weight and albumen weight (Scott and Silversides, 2000) and between egg weight and albumin percentage (Hermiz et al., 2012). Several studies reported a significant correlation between egg weight and its components (Scott and Silversides, 2000; Silversides and Scott, 2001; Ali, 2010).

The correlation between egg weight and its component percentages were positively high except with albumin percentage. The correlations between yolk percentage with albumin percentage and albumin percentage with shell percentage were negatively significant (p>0.01) as showed in (Table 4). Hermiz et al. (2012) also found negative correlation between albumin and yolk percentages. Egg weight is genetically linked to all three of the major components: shell, albumen, and yolk. Washburn (1990) summarized literature to show that the link between egg weight and albumen weight is higher than those between egg weight and shell or yolk weight. Fletcher et al. (1981 and 1983) showed that as egg size increased, increase the percentage of albumen. The data presented here demonstrate that within a strain, variation in egg weight is determined largely by variation in albumen weight. Selection for albumen weight as an individual trait should be possible because the heritability is moderate to high (Washburn, 1979). The heritability of shell strength (Hunton, 1982) or thickness (Poggenpoel, 1986) is also moderate to high, but that for yolk weight is lower (Washburn, 1979).

REFERENCES

Ali, S.H. (2010): Effect of strain and storage period on some qualitative and quantitative traits of table eggs. Diploma, College of Agriculture, Salahaddin University, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.

Arafa, A.S.; Harms, R.H.; Miles, R.D.; Christmas, R.B. and Choi, J.H. (1982): Quality characteristics of eggs from different strains of hens as related to time of Oviposition. Poult. Sci., 61: 842-47.

Buss, E.G. (1982): Genetic differences in avian egg shell formation. In Poult. Sci., vol. 61, pp. 2048–2055.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps. 0612048.

Carter, T.C. and Jones, R.M. (1970): The hen’s egg shell shape parameters and their interrelations. Br. Poult. Sci., 11: 179-87.

Duncan, D.B. (1955): Multiple Range and Multiple Test. Biometrics, 11, 1-42.

Fletcher, D.L. Britton, W.M.; Rahn, A.P. and Savage, S.I. (1981): The influence of layer flock age on egg component yields and solids content. In Poultry Sci, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 983–987.

Fletcher, D.L. Britton, W.M. and Pesti, G.M. (1983): The relationship of layer flock age and egg weight on egg component yields and solids content. In Poultry Sci, vol. 62, no. 9, pp.1800–1805.

Halaj, M. and Golian, J. (2011): Table eggs characteristics. Nitra: Garmond, pp. 37–62 (in Slovak).

Halaj, M. and Grofik, R. (1994): The relationship between egg shell strength and hens features. In Živočišnávýroba, vol. 39, pp. 927–934.

Hanusová, E.; Hrnčár, C.; Hanus, A. and Oravcová, M. (2015): Effect of breed on some parameters of egg quality in laying hens.Actafytotechn. Zootechn, 18, (1): 20–24.

Hartmann, C.; Johansson, K.; Strandberg, E. and Wilhelmson, M. (2000): One-generation divergent selection on large and small yolk proportions in a white Leghorn Line. British Poultry Science, 41: 280-286.

Hermiz, H.N.; Abas, K.A.; Al-Khatib, T.R.; Amin, Sh.M.; Ahmed, A.M.; Hamad, D.A. and Denha, H.P. (2012): Effect of strain and storage period on egg quality characteristics of local Iraqi laying hens. Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. pp: 98-101.

Hunton, P. (1982): Genetic factors affecting egg shell quality. World’s Poult. Sci. J. 38: 75–84.

Jones, D.R. (2006): Conserving and monitoring shell egg quality. Pp. 157-165 in Proc. 18^thAnn. Australia. Poult. Sci. Symp. Australia.

Kabir, M.; Sulaiman, R.O.; Idris1, R.K.; Abdu, S.B.; Daudu, O.M.; Yashim, S.M.; Hassan, M.R.; Adamu2, H.Y.; Eche, N.M.; Olugbemi, T.S. and Adedibu, I.I. (2014): Effects of strain, age and the interrelationships between external and internal qualities of eggs in two strains of layer chickens in northern guinea savannah zone of nigeria. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science. 4(1), 179-184.

Kul, S. and Seker, I. (2004): Phenotypic correlations between some external and internal egg quality traits in the Japanese quail. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 3(6), 400-405.

McFerran, J.B. and Adair, B.M. (2003): Diseases of Poultry. Iowa State Press, Ames, Iowa. USA.

Monira, K.N.; Salahuddin, M. and Miah, G. (2003): Effect of breed and holding period on egg quality characteristics of chicken. International Journal of Poultry Science, 2 (4): 261-263.

Olawumi, S.O. and Ogunlade, J.T. (2009): The effect of genotype and age of layer breeds on egg quality traits. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 36(2), 228-236.

Pandey, N.K.; Mahapatra, C.M.; Nerma, S.S. and Johari, D.C. (1986): Effect of strain on physical egg quality characteristics in White Leghorn chickens. International Journal Poultry Science, 21: 304- 307.

Poggenpoel, D.G. (1986): Correlated response in shell and albumen quality with selection for increased egg production. Poultry Sci. 65: 1633–1641.

Potts, P.L.; Washburn, K.W. and Hale, K.K. (1974): Shell evaluation of white and brown egg strains by deformation, breaking strength, shell thickness and specific gravity. Poult. Sci., 53: 2167-2174.

Scott, T.A. and Silversides, F.G. (2000): The effect of storage and strain of hen on egg quality. Poultry Science, 79: 1725-1729.

Silversides, F.G. and Scott, T.A. (2001): Effect of storage and layer age on quality of eggs from two lines of hens. Poultry Science, 80: 1240-1245.

SPSS (Version 18, IBM, USA). SPSS Inc. Released (2007): SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.

Tharrington, J.B.; Curtis, P.A.; Jones, F.T. and Anderson, K.E. (1999): Comparison of physical quality and composition of eggs from historic strains of single comb White Leghorn chickens. Poultry Sci. 78: 591–594.

Vits, A.; Weitzenbürger, D.; Hamann, H. and Distl, O. (2005): Production, egg quality, bone strength, claw length, and keel bone deformites of laying hens housed in furnished cages with different group sizes. In PoultSci, vol. 84, no. 10, pp. 1511–1519.

Washburn, K.W. (1979): Genetic variation in the chemical composition of the egg. Poultry Sci. 58: 529–535.

Washburn, K.W. (1990): Genetic variation in egg composition. In R. D. Crawford, ed. Poultry Breeding and Genetics. New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishers, pp. 781–798.

Zhang, L.C.; Ning, Z.H.; Xu, G.Y.; Hou, Z.C. and Yang, N. (2005): Heritability and genetic and genotypic correlations of egg quality traits in brown-egg dwarf layers. Poultry Science, 84, 1209–1213.

Zita, L.; Tůmová, E. and Štolc, L. (2009): Effects of genotype, age and their interaction on egg quality in brown-egg laying hens. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 78: 85–91.