engleski

Physical and mechanical properties of hrvatica hen eggs from free-range raising and their comparison with eggs from cage housing

The aim of this study was to determine physical and mechanical properties of Hrvatica hen eggs from free-range raising and their comparison with properties of Hy-Line hybrid hen eggs from cage housing. The average values of Hrvatica hen eggs length, width, geometric mean diameter, surface area and volume were found to be 55.82 mm, 40.43 mm, 45.01 mm, 6366.42 mm2 and 47835.20 mm3, respectively. According to average mass of 51.01 g, Hrvatica hen eggs can be classified as small, and according to average shape index of 72.52%, can be characterized as normal or standard. In comparison to eggs from cage housing system, Hrvatica hen eggs had stronger shell, their average firmness was 20.1% higher and required in average 9.3% greater force to rupture egg.

egg dimensions, shape index, shell strength, rupture force, egg firmness

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