• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2008

Broken eggs not only cause the economic loss in the egg producing industry, but also may not be good for the consumer's health. In order to identify the causes of eggshell breakage in laying hen houses, analyses on the status of eggshell breakage in the step of egg conveyer system of the laying hen house were conducted. The survey of eggshell breakage rate was implemented by four different stages egg conveying system. In the results, the breakage rate showed 4.7% in the egg collection belt, 2.5% in the egg elevator, 1.7% in the egg grading system and 0.9% in the egg conveyor belt. In particular, to Hy-line Brown variety, as the hens' raising week old increased, the breakage rate of eggshell increased while the strength of eggshell decreased. In the regression analysis between the breakage rate of eggshell and the strength of eggshell, the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) by the test of significance was computed as 0.7, therefore the changes of the strength of eggshell affects the breakage rate of eggshell. However, between the strength of eggshell and thickness of egg shell, and between the strength of eggshell and strain of eggshell, there was no significant difference detected in the regression analysis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2023

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between egg breakage rate and cumulative external forces on eggs during the egg transfer system in 12 commercial layers farms. The commercially available electronic egg device was used to detect the external forces on eggs during egg collection systems. In addition, egg breakage rate per farm was collected. It was found that the external force on eggs were greater in the order of washer and dryer connection part, conveyor connection part, transfer, sorter, collecting elevator, packer, egg transfer connection part, and egg tray. A positive relationship between the external forces on eggs during egg transit system and the incidence of cracked eggs per farm was noted. The external forces on eggs varied from 5G to 38G depending on the location and the egg breakage rate ranged from 3.2 to 14.5% per farm. Although efforts to produce eggs with high eggshell quality are considered important, extra care should be made to lower the external forces on eggs during the egg transfer system from laying house to egg packing center.