Physico-chemical analysis of eggs of native fowl, duck and goose reared under backyard condition

Abstract

A total of 135 eggs (50 chicken, 50 duck and 35 goose eggs) were collected from farmers’ doors from adjoining rural areas of Bhubaneswar for egg quality traits and chemical analysis. The mean values of quality traits of egg weight, volume, albumin weight, yolk weight, shell weight, shell thickness, shape index, albumin index, yolk index and haugh unit score for native fowls were recorded 43.40 ± 3.30 g, 39.70 ± 1.13 cuml, 19.05 ± 0.17 g, 15.14 ± 0.28 g, 9.21 ± 0.13 g, 0.040 ± 0.01 cm, 78.22 ± 0.61, 0.154 ± 0.01, 0.271 ± 0.01 and 85.65 ± 0.18, respectively. The corresponding values for duck eggs were estimated as 73.75 ± 1.86 g, 67.00 ± 1.76 cuml, 35.73 ± 0.66 g, 25.77 ± 0.68, 12.25 ± 0.58 g, 0.071 ± 0.01 cm, 69.19 ± 0.82, 0.124 ± 0.02, 0.388 ± 0.03 and 82.47 ± 0.45, respectively. Similarly, the values for goose were 128.01 ± 1.18 g, 123.61 ± 7.03 cuml, 55.41 ± 0.78 g, 52.11 ± 0.52 g, 20.49 ± 0.21 g, 0.060 ± 0.01 cm, 75.09 ± 0.08, 0.204 ± 0.02, 0.426 ± 0.01 and 106.44 ± 0.60, respectively. The chemical composition of eggs such as moisture, crude protein, crude fat, total ash, carbohydrate, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorous and metabolized energy were also evaluated. The significant variability observed in most of egg quality traits indicated the scope for further genetic improvement. 

Keywords: Duck and goose, Egg quality traits, Fowl.