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Comparison of Village Eggs and Commercial Eggs in Terms of Egg Quality
Abstract
Eggs are highly important food because of their high value of protein and richness of vitamins and minerals. Similarly to other types of food, eggs have become subject of discussions about food safety. Intensive production techniques, in which several chemical additives are used, are put into question by consumers. In this context, village eggs, whose production is characterized by abandonment of intensive agriculture in rural areas have become as a symbol of a natural product more and more popular with consumers. In this study, village eggs are compared with commercial eggs, which are produced under conditions of intensive agriculture in terms of egg quality characteristics. For this reason, village eggs from 9 villages around the city of Kahramanmaras/Turkey and commercial eggs produced in 4 different facilities of factory farming were analyzed. According to the results, significant differences were found in weight; shell thickness was higher in village eggs; there were also significant differences in yolk colour. For statistical analysis the statistics program SPSS 15 was used.
... The average egg shell thickness of IB and BB under intensive production system was significantly higher (p<0.05) than under village production systems (P<0.05) and agreed with the reports of Tulin and Ahmet (2009) and Dorji (2013). However, the average egg shell thickness of PK did not differ significantly under intensive and village production system. ...
... The average HU recorded for IB and BB in the current study was significantly higher than the report of Niraj et al. (2014) under intensive management for Rohde Island Red and Bovans white breeds in northern Ethiopia. The current finding disagreed with Tulin and Ahmet (2009) and Dorji (2013), who reported no significant difference in HU for eggs collected from village and intensive production systems. ...
A total of 227 eggs were collected during summer 2013 from Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Brown (BB) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chickens for comparative study of internal and external egg quality traits under intensive and village production systems in East Shewa, Ethiopia. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS and significant differences in egg quality traits were compared using post hoc multiple comparisons. Average egg weight, Haugh Unit, shell thickness, yolk colour, albumen weight, yolk percent and yolk to albumin ratio of IB showed a significant difference (p<0.05) under intensive and village production systems. BB showed a statistical significant difference (p<0.05) for egg weight, yolk height, albumen height, yolk colour, Haugh Unit, shell thickness, yolk percent and albumen percent under intensive and village production systems. Further, average yolk height, yolk weight, yolk color, yolk percent and yolk to albumen ratio of PK revealed a significant difference under village and intensive production systems. The study revealed that even though the differences were observed in egg quality traits under intensive and extensive system, eggs produced from village were also found to be good quality.
... The average egg shell thickness of IB and BB under intensive production system was significantly higher (p<0.05) than under village production systems (P<0.05) and agreed with the reports of Tulin and Ahmet (2009) and Dorji (2013). However, the average egg shell thickness of PK did not differ significantly under intensive and village production system. ...
... The average HU recorded for IB and BB in the current study was significantly higher than the report of Niraj et al. (2014) under intensive management for Rohde Island Red and Bovans white breeds in northern Ethiopia. The current finding disagreed with Tulin and Ahmet (2009) and Dorji (2013), who reported no significant difference in HU for eggs collected from village and intensive production systems. ...
A total of 227 eggs were collected during summer 2013 from Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Brown (BB) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chickens for comparative study of internal and external egg quality traits under intensive and village production systems in East Shewa, Ethiopia. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS and significant differences in egg quality traits were compared using post hoc multiple comparisons. Average egg weight, Haugh Unit, shell thickness, yolk colour, albumen weight, yolk percent and yolk to albumin ratio of IB showed a significant difference (p<0.05) under intensive and village production systems. BB showed a statistical significant difference (p<0.05) for egg weight, yolk height, albumen height, yolk colour, Haugh Unit, shell thickness, yolk percent and albumen percent under intensive and village production systems. Further, average yolk height, yolk weight, yolk color, yolk percent and yolk to albumen ratio of PK revealed a significant difference under village and intensive production systems. The study revealed that even though the differences were observed in egg quality traits under intensive and extensive system, eggs produced from village were also found to be good quality.
... The average yolk weight of the three chicken groups in this study was not significantly different. This finding was in agreement with the report of Tulin and Ahmet (2009) for eggs produced under village management system. The yolk colour value for PK (10.79 ± 1.98) and IB (9.74 ± 3.13) were significantly higher than yolk colour value of BB (7.77 ± 3.15). ...
... The average HU was not significantly different among IB, BB and PK. The present finding on HU was lower than the observation of Tulin and Ahmet (2009) who reported HU of 85.82 for village chicken eggs. ...
The study was conducted to determine productive performances and egg quality traits of Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Brown (BB) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) under village production system in Ada'a and Lume districts of East Shewa, Ethiopia. A total of 180 randomly selected smallholder farmers were included in the study from six purposively selected Peasant Associations (PAs) from the two districts. Information was obtained on average eggs/year and age at first laying, while hen's body weight was measured directly during survey and egg collection. The average egg production/year was 276.1, 266.32, and 187.04 eggs for IB, BB and PK, respectively. The average age at first laying was 160.5, 165.5 and 153.3 days for IB, BB and PK, respectively. The strain BB was superior for egg weight, yolk height, albumen height (AH), albumen weight, Haugh unit (HU) and eggshell thickness than IB and PK. The IB was found to be superior to BB and PK for yolk weight, whereas PK was superior to IB and BB for yolk colour. In this study, the egg quality traits obtained from these layers was a good quality at village level, while to better conclude on the average number of egg /bird/year, it may need further study through considering the amount and types of feed supplement by farmers and proper recording on the number of eggs laid.
... The average shell thickness values obtained from the current study are in close agreement with the findings of Parmar et al. [36] for Indian and Bekele et al. [34] for Ethiopian scavenging local chickens. Shell thickness of 0.370 mm was reported by Melesse et al. [37] for Ethiopian naked-neck chickens under on-station research and by Cicek and Kartalkanta [38] for village chickens of Turkey. A high shell thickness value of 0.580 mm was also reported by Fayeye et al. [39] for Fulani ecotype chickens of Nigeria. ...
... The average yolk color value observed in the present study was slightly higher than that of Moges et al. [14] but considerably higher than reported by Bekele et al. [34] for scavenging local chickens. However, higher yolk color values were reported for local chickens of Turkey [38] and for naked-neck chickens of Ethiopia [37]. The low yolk color value observed in this study might be attributed to the period of the experiment (dry season) where there was shortage of green plant materials for the scavenging chickens. ...
A survey based experiment was conducted from November 2010 to April 2011 in 196 households to assess egg handling and qualities of scavenging chickens reared in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecological zones of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. For egg quality determination, among 196 households, 30 of them who keep only local chickens were identified from each agro-ecology from which 588 eggs (196 eggs from each agro-ecology) were collected. The flock size in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies was 8.5, 7.4 and 8.4 chickens, respectively. The results indicated that about 95% and 70% of the respondents fumigate day old chicks with smoke and clip tail feathers, respectively. The average age at first egg lay was 6.94, 6.43 and 6.57 months for highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies, respectively. The survivability of chickens in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecological zones was 55.0%, 61.4% and 55.1%, respectively. On the average 79.1% hatchability, 58.3% chick survivability was found in the study area. The observed values of egg weight, egg length, egg width, yolk height, albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly (p< 0.05) different between the investigated agro-ecologies. Accordingly, all these traits were (p< 0.05) higher in midland than those of highland and lowland agro-ecological zones. Agro-ecology did not affect shape index, shell thickness, yolk width and yolk index values. The respective average egg weight, shell thickness and shape index values were 39.6 g, 0.296 mm and 73.2%. The average values of yolk height, yolk width and Haugh unit were 16.1 mm, 36.8 mm and 73.2, respectively. In conclusion, the midland agro-ecological system appears to favor the survivability and expression of external and internal egg quality traits of scavenging rural chickens.
... However, the average Haugh unit is 81.0 found by the same author for eggs collected from intensively managed RIR chicken. Eskinder A, gives an explanation for average Haugh unit value (<72) which is smaller attributed to poor handling and storage of eggs until sale, since egg Haugh unit value is highly correlated with storage condition and duration of eggs [19]. The average Haugh unit of indigenous, cross and exotic chicken breed in Chelliya district was 69.13±2.21g, ...
The aim of this review was to show the possibilities of using local and exotic breed chicken for production of egg
for its specific quality features in the light of all-inclusive researches. The goal of this analysis was the quality of egg
from exotic and local chicken raised in different production management system. The result of the studies on the
quality egg from chicken (exotic and local) obtained from different management have shown that there are significant
difference both the internal and external egg quality characteristics. Under village condition, local and exotic chickens
have higher Hugh unit and deep yellow color. The egg qualities of chickens depend on their genotype, age of
hen, quality and quantity of feed and storage condition of egg, embryonic development of the egg and production
system. Therefore, the present review study suggests that exotic chicken like that of local chicken have ability to
produce good egg quality which is directly favors the economic preference of consumers under extensive feeding�based production system. Similarly, internal and external egg quality variations have been observed between the
indigenous and improved chicken populations; hence, a profoundly egg chemical composition evaluation is needed
to show the level of egg composition differentiation and similarity between them
... Yolk index (YI, %) was computed according to the equation [24]: YI = (yolk height, mm/yolk diameter, mm) × 100. ...
The present study compared the fatty acid profile and some physical parameters of eggs from hens reared according to the organic system at the beginning of the first and second laying cycle. A total of 1080 eggs were analysed at the beginning of the first (from the 28th to 30th week of age) and the second (from the 78th to 80th week of age) laying cycle. It was found that the hen ages influenced the egg weight, egg surface area, yolk proportion, and eggshell colour. Albumen and eggshell proportion, albumen, yolk index, Haugh unit score, and eggshell strength were lower in eggs from older hens compared with those produced from younger layers. Monounsaturated fatty acids were found in higher amounts than saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in egg yolks of eggs from layers only at the beginning of the second laying cycle. The PUFAn-6/n-3 ratio, saturation, atherogenic, and thrombogenic indices were significantly lower in the egg yolks from older hens compared to younger layers. These findings (regarding the eggs from the older ones) prove that it is practical to utilize them in the organic farming system during a period of two years.
... The yolk weight in the present study indicated suitability of these varieties for rearing under backyard production system. Similar to our finding, Hussain et al. (2013) and Tulin and Ahmet (2009) reported non-significant effect of management on eggs under intensive and village production system. The mean yolk weight recorded in the present study was also comparable to the report of Tadesse et al. (2013) rearing Rohde Island Red breed under intensive management. ...
The aim of the study was to evaluate the egg traits among improved varieties of chicken reared under backyard poultry production system. The results indicated superiority of rearing these improved varieties under backyard production system in terms of their external and internal egg traits. Significant differences were observed in egg weight, shape index and shell weight of eggs which was superior in CARI-Devendra birds followed by CARI-Sonali and CARI-Hitkari. The yolk weight in different varieties of chicken differ significantly. However, no difference in albumin weight was observed in the study. The egg indices and haugh unit was also superior in CARI-Devendra than other varieties of chicken. Further, it was found that management and its interaction had significant effect on egg weight and yolk colour in few varieties. Thus, it may be suggested that egg traits differ in different improved varieties of chicken and CARI Devendra and CARI Sonali may be promoted under backyard production system according to the demand for brown and white eggs, respectively.
... The yolk color of the eggs from Bovans Brown hens reared at some farms in Addis Ababa was lighter when compared with the present findings (Nebiyu, 2016). The variation in the varied pigmentation is influenced by the diet of the chickens; the pigmentation being deeper among the chickens reared under scavenging system when compared with those reared at commercial farms (Tulin and Ahmet, 2009). ...
... Using the individual weight of each egg and its components, the percentage of each component was calculated. The egg shape index [41], Haugh unit score [42], and albumen and yolk indices [43,44] also were computed. ...
The effect of the housing system on egg production, quality, and the concentration of egg yolk and blood serum cholesterol was studied in hens from the genetic resources available in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A total of 132 pullets was divided according to breed (Czech hens x Oravka hens) and the housing system (36 hens per enriched cage and 30 hens per litter). The eggs for the laboratory evaluation were collected over 2 consecutive d during 4-week periods. Significant interactions between breed and housing system were found in some egg quality parameters (with the exception of egg weight). Higher albumen and yolk quality were found in Oravka hens on litter, but higher eggshell quality was detected in Czech hens on litter. The cholesterol concentration in egg yolk was significantly affected by the breed and housing system of hens. A significantly higher average concentration of cholesterol in egg yolk was in Oravka hens (11.22 mg/g) and in layers housed on litter (11.24 mg/g). The influence of the housing system and interaction between the breed and housing system on cholesterol concentration in blood serum were significantly different. The highest concentration of cholesterol in blood serum was in Oravka hens in cages (3.65 mmol/l). The results show that the selection of a suitable genotype and housing system can affect egg quality and the concentration of cholesterol in egg yolk.
... The average yolk weight of the three chicken groups in this study was not significantly different. This finding was in agreement with the report of Tulin and Ahmet (2009) for eggs produced under village management system. The yolk colour value for PK (10.79 ± 1.98) and IB (9.74 ± 3.13) were significantly higher than yolk colour value of BB (7.77 ± 3.15). ...
The study was conducted to determine productive performances and egg quality traits of Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Brown (BB) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) under village production system in Ada’a andn Lume districts of East Shewa, Ethiopia. A total of 180 randomly selected smallholder farmers were included in the study from six purposively selected Peasant Associations (PAs) from the two districts. Information was obtained on average eggs/year and age at first laying, while hen’s body weight was measured directly during survey and egg collection. The average egg production/year was 276.1, 266.32, and 187.04 eggs for IB, BB and PK, respectively. The average age at first laying was 160.5, 165.5 and 153.3 days for IB, BB and PK, respectively. The strain BB was superior for egg weight, yolk height, albumen height (AH), albumen weight, Haugh unit (HU) and eggshell thickness than IB and PK. The IB was found to be superior to BB and PK for yolk weight, whereas PK was superior to IB and BB for yolk colour. In this study, the egg quality traits obtained from these layers was a good quality at village level, while to better conclude on the average number of egg /bird/year, it may need further study through considering the amount and types of feed supplement by farmers and proper recording on the number of eggs laid.
Key words: Exotic chicken, productive performances, egg quality traits.
... The yolk index was calculated according to the equation [7]. Yolk index = (Yolk height, mm/yolk diameter mm) * 100 ...
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the quality of eggs produced from two genotypes aged hens, in
specific points in molting period. In this study quality of eggs produced from ISA brown 88 weeks aged hens
was compared with eggs produced from Hisex Brown 91 weeks aged hens. The values of external quality
characteristics significantly decreased during the stress period in egg weight for 8.6% (p0.05) and 14.16%
(p0.01) and become a little higher in second laying cycle (p0.05). The same trend was found in shell
weight which was decreased for 70.36% and 69.36% (p0.01) and slowly increased in the second laying
cycle 1.00% and 1.08% (p0.05) in the first (ISA Brown) and second (Hisex Brown) group. Shell thickness
was decreased during stress period for 62.38% and 62.32% (p0.01) and still lower in the second cycle for
13.86% and 13.30% (p0.01) in first and second group. Internal characteristics in yolk weight were changed
for 14.58% (p0.01) and 1.15% in stress period equalized closely 4.81% and 2.31% which was insignificant
(p0.05). The yolk colour significantly decreased during stress period (p0.01) and equalized during the
second cycle (p0.05). The yolk index between different specific points of molting in first group was improved
in the second egg laying cycle for 6.5% and 6.3% (p0.05), but in the second group there was not found
difference between preparing and second laying period, but it was found significant difference between stress
period and preparing and second laying period for 12.4% and 12.8% (p0.01). Albumen height and Haugh
units did not changed their quality during the stress period (p0.05), but in second laying period it was
improved for 10% and 11% (p0.01) in first (ISA Brown) and second (Hisex Brown) group.
The study was conducted in three districts of Bench Maji Zone in Southwestern Ethiopia with the objective of assessing the production and egg quality traits of indigenous chickens reared under natural production environment. Two hundred seventy households were randomly selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. For the evaluation of egg quality traits, 450 fresh eggs were collected from indigenous chicken breeds while for the assessment of carcass, 45 representative indigenous male chickens were used. The results revealed that the flock size per household was 10.4 with 1:2.9 cocks to hen ratio. The average age of cockerel at first mating and pullet at first egg laying was 5.9 and 6.4 months, respectively. The average number of eggs per clutch and the annual egg production were 14.8 and 54.6, respectively. The mean number of eggs incubated by hens was 11.8 with 82.2% hatchability and 48.8% survivability rate. The average egg weight and shape index was 43.9 g and 72.7%, respectively. The average shell thickness was about 0.33 mm. The respective average albumen height and the Haugh unit score was 3.4 mm and 61.2. The average yolk height and yolk color were 14 mm and 10.9, respectively. The average slaughter weight of adult male chicken was about 1449 g. The dressed carcass yield was 966 g with 66.7% dressing percentage. The proportions of breast meat, thigh, drumsticks, and wing were 25.4%, 19.5%, 15.4% and 10.2%, respectively. The study revealed variations in different production, egg quality and carcass characteristics among the studied districts which might be due to management difference and genetic dissimilarities of indigenous chicken ecotypes that have to be exploited through improved management and breeding strategies. Further research is recommended to evaluate the performance, egg quality and carcass yield potentials of indigenous chickens of the districts under improved feeding and management systems.
Scaly leg mite (Knemidocoptesmutans) is a small mite, belonging to Sarcoptes group, which usually
inhabitat underneath the scales of legs. Knemidocoptesmutans can also infest any unfeathered
parts including the face, beak, ears, eyes, combs and wattles of the poultry. The scaly condition
if untreated may worsen to very painful condition, loss of toes and even death. Earlier Shastri et
al.(1990) reported the infection in backyard poultry birds from Parbhani region. The reports on scaly
leg condition in backyard chicken are scanty. The present paper puts on record of scaly leg condition
in a local (desi) backyard chicken and its successful therapy.
This Study was conducted in the mid rift valley of Ethiopia from September 2009 to August 2010 to
evaluate the production performance of Fayoumi chicken breed under backyard management
conditions. A total of 350 female and 50 male two months age growing Fayoumi chicken were used for
the study. The chickens were distributed to five farmer research groups (FRGs) in four districts of the
mid rift valley of Ethiopia. The average age and weight at sexual maturity obtained in this study were
183.5±5.60 days and 1215±11.12g, respectively. The annual average egg production obtained was
150.47 ± 3.15 eggs/hen/year and the hen day egg production was 41.23 ± 15.97%. The mean value
measurements obtained on egg weight and shape index were 44.68 ± 3.63g and 75.95 ± 2.81,
respectively while the yolk weight, albumen weight, shell weight, shell thickness and yolk color were
14.54 ± 1.36g, 24.61 ± 2.67g, 5.63 ± 0.76g, 0.36 ± 0.04mm and 5.89 ± 3.58, respectively. With regard to
hatchability rate 78.22% of the Fayoumi eggs set were hatched. Higher mortality rate (54.85%) was
recorded in this study. The mid rift valley area of Ethiopia is agro-ecologically suitable for Fayoumi
chicken breed but, effective poultry health management technique should be designed to decrease the
mortality to acceptable level.
An ongoing crossbreeding experiment is being conducted with the objective of producing dual purpose synthetic chicken for village poultry production in Ethiopia. The two exotic chicken breeds used were the Fayoumi (F) and Rhode Island Red (R) as dam line, whereas the two indigenous chicken breeds used were the Naked neck (N) and local Netch (W); a white feathered chicken. The indigenous breeds were used as sire line to produce the hybrids FN (F♀ X N♂) and RW (R♀ X W♂). Growth and egg production performance of the crosses were compared with each other and with the exotic pure line performance. Both body and egg weight of FN was improved while body weight of RW was reduced and age at first egg was significantly reduced, compared to their respective dam line. Egg production for the crosses was lower than for their maternal lines. Although FN cross chicks weighed more and grew faster than RW chicks during the brooding period, the difference became insignificant as they grew older. However, the higher overall average body weight gain of RW crosses that was observed was mainly due to higher weight gain for the RW cocks. No significant differences were observed in overall egg production and quality traits between the two crosses, but significant age effect within crosses was found. Mortality in the FN cross was lower than in the RW cross. These F1 crosses will be used as parents to produce a 4-way synthetic crossbred chicken.
A study was conducted to determine the effects of hen's age on the egg quality. The correlation between quality characteristics and the difference among quality characteristics due to hen age were also studied. Results obtained from this study indicated that age of hen significantly affected the egg quality variables measured. As the hen age increased, egg weight, yolk width, albumen width and albumen lenght were increased while shell strenght, shell thickness, yolk index, albumen index, yolk height, albumen height and Haugh unit were decreased.
Starcross brown 579 laying pullets (81), 22-week-old, were fed on isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with same level of dietary calcium from different sources, e.g. oyster shell, limestone and calcium premix to evaluate the effect of different dietary calcium sources on egg production and egg shell quality up to 33 week of age. No significant difference (P>0.05) in feed intake, hen day egg production, egg weight, shell weight, shell per cent, shell thickness and survivability was noted among pullets on different dietary calcium sources. Egg weight, shell weight, shell per cent and shell thickness was increased with the advancement of age of pullets on calcium premix. Although there was no statistically significant difference found in terms of egg production and egg quality on 3 different dietary calcium sources but calcium premix seemed to increase egg production, egg weight, and shell weight than did oyster shell and limestone. The study therefore, suggested that, any of these calcium sources can be considered for laying chicken, but calcium premix would be better at the first phase of production.
The study was carried out to investigate the effect of adding lutein, alfalfa meal, marigold meal, paprika meal, β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester, canthaxanthin and β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester+canthaxanthin (3:1) on egg yolk pigmentation and production in white corn and wheat diets. The maximum Roche color fan (RCF) value was found in canthaxanthin and the mixture of β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester and canthaxantin. The maximum β-carotene equivalent (BCE) value was found in β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester. The maximum Hunter L value was found in the control and lutein. The maximum Hunter a value was found in paprika meal. The maximum Hunter b value was found in β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethly ester and alfalfa meal (P<0.01). There were no significant differences among the groups for egg production, egg weight and weight gain (P>0.01).
Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship of layer flock age and egg weight on egg component yields and resulting
solids content. Eggs were obtained from six commercial farms with the same strain and receiving diets formulated to contain
the same dietary energy and protein levels. Eggs were collected from each flock on the same morning every 2 weeks for a total
of 12 weeks. The eggs for each week were broken out; the yolk, albumen, and shell fractions separated and weighed; and the
yolk and albumen solids determined. Results were used to establish the independent and simultaneous relationships of egg weight
and lock age on egg component yields and solids content. Increasing yolk yield in grams was found to be about equally dependent
upon increasing egg weight or increasing flock age. Increased albumen and shell yields in grams were found to be positive
functions of egg weight but negative functions of flock age. Yolk solids yield was a function of total yolk yield whereas
albumen solids yield was dependent on increasing total albumen but was more negatively correlated to flock age than could
be explained solely by albumen yield.
This study shows that family poultry husbandry, business activities and paid employment contribute 35%, 30% and 18% respectively to the household income of women in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The average income from family poultry is N16, 784.53 ($124.33), which is about 25% and 50% of national minimum wage and per capita income in Nigeria respectively. The major constraints to the family poultry in the study area are disease and pest, pilfering and lack of capital. The econometric analysis indicates that wage, business and family poultry income are significant determinants of income of women in the study area. The estimated regression coefficients are, 0.35, 0.32 and 0.19 for wage, business and family poultry income respectively. This suggests that if wage income, business income and family poultry income increase by 100%, total income of the women will increase by 35%, 32% and 19% respectively. This indicates that family poultry husbandry has third rating in potentially influencing women income in the study area. It is recommended from the study that the contribution of family poultry to total income of the women can be improved through proper medication and vaccination of their birds with vaccines that are stable under tropical environment. It is also imperative that semi intensive, if not intensive, rearing technology should be considered as a reasonable option if the problem of pilfering is to be addressed. Improving the capital base of the women through formation of cooperating and micro-credit schemes should also be a welcome development in addressing the problem of lack of capital.
This study aimed to describe and compare village chicken production in two farming systems in Burkina Faso. The systems were those in which crops and livestock production were, respectively, the most important. A rapid rural appraisal preceded a monitoring study in which data were collected fortnightly for 2 months. The study revealed that village chickens are used as sacrifices, gifts and objects of exchange for traditional medicine, or are sold for a little money under both systems. Chicken production is a free-range procedure in both farming systems, but there are differences in management. On average, the flock size was 33.5 +/- 3 birds, of which 57% were chicks. During the period of 2 months in the rainy season, the overall mortality was relatively low (8.8% +/- 1.5) but mortality in chicks was high (31.7%). The main cause of financial loss in the village chickens was mortality, which represented up to 84% of the total exits. The hatching rate and mortality in young chicks differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the two farming systems.
Taking into account the "modern" life in which even people living in small urban centers and towns are city-dwellers and "consumers", the emphasis put by food advertisements on the cleanness, purity, and healthiness of "nature" is significant. That "nature" implies the "natural" and "healthy" consequently makes the handmade productions more valuable. The "village" is the bearer of all these attributes and this fact determines the eating habits of people. However, a major rupture may instantly invert the eating habits and the image of productions which are "good for health". In this paper, making use of advertisements, I will show how the image of industrial organization as the representative of hygienic life has replaced the image of village and nature in food advertisements and interpret the change of image of "health", due to a major influence of avian flu epidemic.
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate different feeding schedule and oyster shell supplementation on the performance and eggshell quality, determined blood constituents, and on the calcium and phosphorus apparent availability using 120 laying hens Lohmann LSL, aged 70 weeks, distributed in 20 experimental units with six hens each. A completely randomized experimental design was used in a factorial arrangement 2 × 2: feeding systems (ad libitum and fasting from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and oyster shell meal supplementation (0 and 6.5 g/hen/day), totalizing four treatments with five replicates each. The results showed smaller feed intake with fasting. The characteristics egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed:gain ratio, shell percent, shell thickness, egg specific gravity and apparent availability of the calcium and phosphorus were not altered by treatments. It was concluded that feeding of hens after 6 p.m. and oyster shell meal supplementation was not advantageous for the performance and eggshell quality of laying hens.
Egg albumen ovomucin distribution and composition were studied in fresh eggs with relatively low or high internal quality as indicated by Haugh unit (HU) values. Egg HU had been altered as a result of genetic selection (mean all eggs: 87 vs 73 HU) or by feeding vanadium (V) to hens (mean all eggs: 91 vs 80 HU). In both altered HU conditions, eggs with low HU values yielded significantly less water-insoluble ovomucin from the thick albumen than eggs with high HU values, whereas the yield of ovomucin from thin albumen did not differ. The amount of ovomucin differed between eggs with high or low HU values as a result of feeding V, but the composition of ovomucin from the thick albumen was not affected. This was confirmed by SDS-PAGE gels, carbohydrate contents, and amino acid contents. When HU values were different as a result of genetics, ovomucin was affected differently. The total amount of ovomucin isolated from the thick albumen of the eggs with high HU was much higher than the amount isolated from the low HU thick albumen. The composition of the ovomucin was also different. SDS-PAGE gels showed a greater proportion of the highly glycosylated β-subunit in the ovomucin from the low HU eggs. Carbohydrate analyses showed higher concentrations of sialic acids, hexoses and hexosamines in the ovomucin from the low HU eggs. The only difference between the ovomucins in the amino acid content was that isoleucine was slightly higher in the high HU ovomucin.© 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
1. Production of total heat, divided into sensible and latent heat, together with carbon dioxide and animal activity were determined at different ambient temperatures under full-scale conditions in an aviary system with loose-housed laying hens. 2. Sensible heat production decreased approximately linearly with increasing ambient temperature and was lower during the day than at night. One explanation may be that some sensible heat produced by the hens was converted to latent heat by evaporation of moisture due to increased activity of the hens during the day (scratching in the bedding and drinking/waste water). 3. Latent heat production increased with increasing ambient temperature and was higher during the day than at night. This confirms that the hens, by agitating the bedding during the day and by spilling drinking water, transferred some sensible heat to latent heat by evaporation. 4. Total heat production decreased with increasing temperature because the hens by thermoregulation decreased their metabolism in order to maintain a constant body temperature. The difference between day and night values of total heat production was less pronounced than in the case of sensible and latent heat. In comparison with current guidelines the measurements showed a higher total heat production (22% higher at 20 degrees C). 5. There was a large diurnal variation in carbon dioxide production, closely correlated to measured animal activity; on average carbon dioxide production during the 12-h dark period was only 66% of the production during the day.
The productivity of local chickens under village management conditions was studied in six villages situated in three climatic zones within Morogoro District in Tanzania. Two villages were picked in each climatic zone (warm and wet, warm and dry, cool and wet) for the study. The data were obtained by actual measurement, qualitative observations and interview of members of the households directly responsible for the care of chickens. In addition, data sheets were given to selected farmers to record the performance of their chickens. The mean flock size for the three zones was 16.2, with a range of 2 to 58. The overall mean clutch size, egg weight and hatchability were 11.8, 44.1 g and 83.6%, respectively. The overall mean chick survival rate to 10 weeks of age was 59.7%. The mean live weights for cocks and hens were 1948 g and 1348 g, respectively. The mean growth rates to the age of 10 weeks were 4.6 g/day and 5.4 g/day, while those from 10 to 14 weeks of age were 8.4 g/day and 10.2 g/day for female and male birds, respectively. The age at first lay ranged between 6 and 8 months, and the average hen had three laying cycles per year. Most of the chickens were left to scavenge during the day and were provided with simple housing at night (95.2% of the owners). Only small amounts of supplementary feeds were occasionally given and minimal health care was provided. It was concluded that the low productivity of chickens was partly due to the prevailing poor management practices, in particular the lack of proper health care, poor nutrition and housing.
In recent years there has been a growing debate about ethical aspects of production and
trade. This has evolved from concerns about fair trade, safe working conditions for producers
and employees and sustainable and environmentally safe natural resource management. The principles of organic agriculture are wide ranging and include concerns for safe food production, for the environment, for animal welfare and for issues of social justice. A working
definition of ethical trading, and an assessment of the links between organic production and
ethical trading were obtained from 34 organisations in the UK involved in ethical or fair
trading or organic agriculture. Interviewees were from major supermarkets, independent and
multiple retailers, alternative trading organisations, importers, wholesalers, accreditation bodies, non-governmental development agencies and lobby groups. A definition of ethical trading based on the interviewees’ responses is developed and discussed. The paper examines current practice in ethical and organic trading and assesses the role of the Ethical Trading Initiative and major supermarkets. Current and potential links between organic production and ethical trade are explored. Constraints to linking the two concepts more fully, both conceptual and practical, are evaluated. There is potential for organic production to be ethical, using the holistic definition given here, by the addition of social criteria to the standards of the organic regulatory authorities. Ethical trading is now becoming mainstream trading and internationally traded organic produce will therefore have to comply with the current view of what is ethical.