Certain egg quality parameters of gray guinea fowl in extensive rearing

Abstract

This paper presents results of determination of certain quality parameters and its phenotypic correlation in eggs originated from extensively reared gray variety of Guinea fowl. A total of 150 egg collected by sampling 30 eggs in each of five analyzed laying months were used for egg quality evaluation and statistical analysis by methods of descriptive statistics and simple linear correlation. Average egg weight, shape index and shell thickness was 38.14 g, 76.03% and 0.49 mm, respectively. Average shell, yolk and albumen weight was 5.83, 12.16 and 20.23 g, respectively, and its proportion was 15.23, 32.10 and 52.69%, respectively. Average values of yolk height, diameter, index and color were 16.54 mm, 39.95 mm, 41.50%, and 13.76, whereas values for albumen diameter, index and height as well Haugh units were 59.30 mm, 9.62%, 5.67 mm, and 82.58, respectively. Majority of examined quality parameters showed significant correlation with other parameters. Egg weight was positive correlated (p<0.01) with egg length (0.76) and width (0.92), shape index (0.22), shell thickness (0.60), shell weight (0.81) and proportion (0.44), albumen (0.92) and yolk weight (0.77) and yolk index (0.23), but in negative connection (p<0.01) with yolk proportion (-0.54), yolk/albumen ratio (-0.41) and albumen index (-0.25). Determined egg quality indicated good potential of this species in extensive rearing, which could be improved and used in more favorable rearing conditions.

Keywords

• Guinea fowl
• egg quality
• phenotypic correlation