The size of the eggs affects the price of eggs. If the retail price is calculated by the number, the small eggs are more cost-effective; if they are sold by weight, the large eggs are easy to sell, but the damage rate of the large eggs is high.
So what are the factors that affect egg weight? Here are some ways to regulate egg weight to meet market demand.
What factors affect egg size? The main factors that affect egg weight are:
1. Breed genetics
2. Physiological habits
3. Nutritional factors
4. Environment, Management
5.Disease and health
1.Breed genetics
The number one factor affecting egg weight is breed. Different breeds of laying hens produce different egg weights, and farmers can choose different breeds to meet market demand.
2. Physical habits
1) Age at first birth
Generally speaking, the younger the day of laying, the smaller the egg weight will be produced in a lifetime. If this situation is not taken in advance, there is no way to make up for it later. Studies have shown that the average egg weight increases by 1 gram for every 1-week delay in the start of production. Of course, the start of production cannot be delayed indefinitely. Too late production will increase more investment.
2) Primitive weight
The second largest factor affecting egg weight is the weight before first lay, which determines the average egg weight in the early stages of laying and even throughout the laying cycle.
The main factors that determine the size of an egg are the size of the yolk and the thickness of the egg white discharged from the ovary, and the size of the yolk is largely affected by the weight of the laying hen and the working capacity of the internal organs, so the weight at sexual maturity can be determined. It is understood that it is the main factor in determining egg weight.
3) Egg laying age
The younger the laying hens are, the smaller the eggs are. As the laying hens increase in age, the weight of the eggs they lay also increases.
3. Nutritional factors
1) Energy
Energy is the main nutritional factor controlling egg weight, and energy has a greater impact on egg weight than protein at the early stage of laying. Properly increasing the energy level during the growth period and the early stage of laying can make the body weight and physical energy reserve more sufficient at the beginning of laying, and thus can increase the egg weight in the early stage of laying.
2) Protein
The level of protein in the diet affects egg size and weight. Insufficient protein in the diet results in smaller eggs. The protein content of the feed can be increased if the hens are of adequate body weight and lay small eggs.
In the early stage of eggs laying, it is beneficial to increase energy and amino acids appropriately to improve physical energy reserve and peak height, and protein is not recommended to be too high.
3) Amino acids
For high-yielding laying hens, the level of methionine can significantly affect egg weight. Under the premise of sufficient energy, egg weight increases linearly with the increase of dietary methionine level. Insufficient content and unbalanced ratio of one or more amino acids will lead to a decrease in egg production and egg weight. Randomly reducing the amount of amino acids added will affect egg production and egg weight at the same time. It is worth noting that body weight is a key factor affecting egg weight in the early stage of laying, while protein and amino acids have little effect on egg weight in the early stage of laying.
4) Certain nutrients
Insufficient dietary vitamin B, choline, and betaine will hinder the utilization of methionine, thereby increasing the requirement of methionine for laying hens. If methionine is insufficient at this time, it will also affect egg weight.
5) Unsaturated fatty acids
Refueling can improve feed palatability and promote feed intake. Adding unsaturated fatty acids can increase egg weight and laying hen body weight. Soybean oil is the most obvious oil for increasing egg weight. In the summer high temperature season, adding 1.5-2% fat to the diet can significantly improve the egg production rate and egg weight.
It is worth noting that if there is a lack of fatty acid, the liver must use starch to synthesize it, so if you can provide a variety of fatty acids that match the nutrition of laying hens, it will increase the egg production rate and egg weight. It is more conducive to the maintenance of liver function and liver health.
6) Feed intake
Under the premise that the nutrient concentration of the feed is relatively stable and stable, the larger the feed intake of laying hens, the larger the eggs will be produced, and the smaller the feed intake will be, the smaller the eggs will be.
4 Environment and Management
1) Ambient temperature
Temperature has the most direct effect on egg weight. Generally speaking, egg weight is smaller in summer and larger in winter. If the temperature in the chicken house exceeds 27°C, the egg weight will decrease by 0.8% for every 1°C increase. If the measures are not taken properly, not only the egg weight will be affected, but the egg production rate will also decrease to varying degrees; of course, if the temperature is too low, it will also cause Metabolic disorders, when the temperature is lower than 10 °C, due to the increase in the maintenance needs of the laying hens themselves, the protein will become waste or even a burden due to lack of energy, and the egg weight will also be reduced. If you want to get a reasonable egg weight or a large egg, you must do a good job in the seasonal feeding and management of laying hens, and control the temperature of the chicken house at 19-23 °C.
2) Light influence
The age of sexual maturity of laying hens cultivated in different seasons is different. The chicks introduced from October to February of the second year are prone to premature birth due to the gradually prolonged sunshine time in the later stage of growth; the chicks introduced from April to August have sunshine in the later stage of growth. The time is gradually shortened, and the flocks are easy to delay the start of production. Starting a flock too early or too late can seriously affect the economics.
5 Disease and health
1) Chickens with low antibody levels, low immunity, sudden or continuous stress, and certain disease infection periods or sequelae will cause irregular egg weight;
2) Insufficient drinking water and poor water quality will affect egg weight.
3) Improper medication will also reduce egg weight.
4) The health of the gastrointestinal tract and liver will also affect the size of the egg. These unhealthy factors will affect the digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients, resulting in indirect lack of nutrients, resulting in egg weight deviation from the target.
How can I improve eggs weight after a variety has been selected?
1. Pay attention to the early feeding and management of laying hens, so that the weight of the hens at each stage exceeds the standard weight, strive to ≥ the upper limit of the recommended weight range, and ensure the good development of organs including the reproductive system. important.
2. Satisfying energy needs and adjusting feed protein and amino acid content according to market needs can increase egg weight.
3. Adding emulsified oil powder with balanced fatty acid can increase egg weight.
4. Control the lighting program and change the day-age of the laying hens to adjust the average egg weight.
5. Pay attention to feed intake and adjust feed crushing particle size to increase feed intake, prevent feed waste and increase egg weight.
6. When the temperature is high, adjusting the temperature in the house is conducive to the feeding of the laying hens and can increase the eggs weight.
7. Control mycotoxins, eliminate unscientific drugs, maintain liver and intestine health, and make full use of every nutrient.
Post time: Jun-29-2022
