The relationship between different laying hen housing systems in Lithuania and egg production quality and chemical composition

Abstract

Egg consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about animal welfare, so it is crucial to develop a better understanding of whether alternative housing systems lead to higher quality eggs. So, the current study was designed to assess the egg quality characteristics, sensory features, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol levels of eggs produced in enriched caging and barn housing systems. An experiment was conducted on Lohmann Brown Classic line laying hens (aged 28–48 weeks) fed analogous feed and housed in enriched cages and barn housing systems. Eggs’ quality traits, nutritional value, and sensory acceptance were evaluated. Hens kept in enriched cages had higher liveability and lay rates but lower feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at almost all trial periods. Barn-laid eggs were heavier and had larger yolks; enriched cage eggs showed higher albumen, Haugh unit (28, 32, 36 weeks of age), stronger and thicker eggshells (32 weeks of age); barn-laid eggs stronger and thicker eggshell (48 weeks of age), higher SFA (start of the trial) and PUFA (at the end) contents. The differences between enriched cage and alternative barn housing systems are negligible, as no clear trend was discovered between them during different trial periods while hens were fed an identical diet.

Keywords:

• productivity
• egg interior
• enriched cage
• barn
• animal welfare
• Lohmann Brown Classic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Notes on contributors

Asta Racevičiūtė-Stupelienė

Asta Racevičiūtė-Stupelienė is a professor of animal science at the Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Her research area focuses on poultry and pigs, their housing systems, animal welfare, and feed alternatives.

Vilma Vilienė

Vilma Vilienė is a professor of animal science at the Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Her research area is mainly focused on rabbits; however, a wide range of research is carried out with poultry, with attention paid to natural alternatives to feed raw materials and chemical additives.

Saulius Bliznikas

Saulius Bliznikas is a senior researcher at the Institute of Animal Sciences, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, located in Baisogala, Lithuania. His work in the Laboratory of Chemistry is supported by analytical methods, chromatography, and other innovative methods focused on research objects of both plant and animal origin.

Vilma Šašytė

Vilma Šašytė is a senior technician at Dr. L. Kriaučeliūnas Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Her field of work includes laboratory diagnostics, installation, assimilation, and application of new laboratory equipment and methodologies.

Monika Nutautaitė

Monika Nutautaitė is a PhD student of animal science and assistant at the Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Her research focuses mainly on the search for alternative feed materials using natural resources. Most of the research involves rabbits and poultry.