Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31727/m.19.5.1
Productivity of hens and egg quality in ecological and conventional (floor) housing system
Đuro Senčić
; Sveučilište J. J. Strossmayera, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Zavod za stočarstvo, Osijek
Danijela Samac
; Sveučilište J. J. Strossmayera, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Zavod za stočarstvo, Osijek
Zvonko Antunović
; Sveučilište J. J. Strossmayera, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Zavod za stočarstvo, Osijek
Dalida Galović
; Sveučilište J. J. Strossmayera, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Zavod za stočarstvo, Osijek
Abstract
The research was conducted in two groups of hens of the Croatian autochthonous breed ‘hrvatica’ (dudica) during one year (52 weeks). The control group of hens was kept conventionally, on the floor, while the trial group of hens was held ecologically (Regulation on ecological production of animal products (Official Gazette 13/02). Hens from the ecological housing, compared to those from the conventional (floor) housing system, produced a smaller number of eggs (195:210), consumed more food daily (140 g : 125 g) and consumed more food for a kilogram of egg mass (4.16 kg : 3.62 kg). Eggs produced by hens from the ecological housing, compared to those from the conventional (floor) housing system, had a significantly (p<0,01) higher mass (63.0 g : 60.0 g), a thicker shell (0.35 mm : 0.33 mm) and a more intense yolk colour (12.00 : 10.75 Rosche) as well as larger Haugh units (76.00 : 72.00). With regard to the yolk index, the egg-white index, yolk pH and egg-white pH, no major differences were established (p>0.05) between the ecological and conventional (floor) hen housing systems. The profitability of egg production in ecologically kept hens will depend, in the largest measure, on the market value of such production.
Keywords
ecological system; conventional (floor) system; hens; quality eggs
Hrčak ID:
187765
URI
Publication date:
5.10.2017.
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