References

• AOAC, 1995. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC, USA.
   Google Scholar
• Bar, A., Vax, E., Striem, S., 1999. Relationships among age, eggshell thickness and vitamin D metabolism and its expression in the laying hen. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 123:147–154.
   Google Scholar
• Benabdeljelil, K., Jensen, L.S., 1990. Effectiveness of ascorbic acid and chromium in counteracting the negative effects of dietary vanadium on interior egg quality. Poultry Sci. 69:781–786.
   Google Scholar
• Bukley, D.J., Amour, G., Fairfull, R.W., 1981. An improved electronic gauge for measuring egg albumen height. Poultry Sci. 40:38–51.
   Google Scholar
• Carrè, B., Brillouet, J.M., 1989. Determination of water insoluble cell walls in feed: interlaboratory study. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 72:463–467.
   Google Scholar
• Casagrande Proietti, P., Passamonti, F., Asdrubali, G., 2001. La gallina ovaiola allevata a terra e in gabbia. Riv. Avicolt. 3(5-6):12–15.
   Google Scholar
• Castellini, C., Dal Bosco, A., Mugnai, C., Pedrazzoli, M., Menghini, L., Pagiotti, R., 2006a. Effetto della disponibilità di pascolo su alcuni componenti bioattivi delle uova. Page 64 in Proc. 5th Nat. Congr. ZOOBIODI, Arezzo, Italy.
   Google Scholar
• Castellini, C., Mugnai, C., Dal Bosco, A., Palozzo, M., Scuota, S., 2004. Aspetti comportamentali, prestazioni produttive e qualità dell’uovo in galline allevate con il metodo biologico. Riv. Avicolt. 3(5-6):41–44.
   Google Scholar
• Castellini, C., Panella, F., Cavalletti, C., 1990. Il recupero della razza Ancona: valutazione delle attitudini produttive. Riv. Avicolt. 59(12):47–50.
   Google Scholar
• Castellini, C., Perella, F., Mugnai, C., Dal Bosco, A., 2006b. Welfare, productivity and qualitative traits of egg in laying hens reared under different rearing systems. pp 592-598 in Proc. 12th Eur. Conf. on Poultry, Verona, Italy.
   Google Scholar
• Cherian, G., Wolfe, F.H.,. Sim, J.S., 1996a. Dietary oils with added tocopherols: effects on egg or tissue tocopherols, fatty acids and oxidative stability. Poultry Sci. 75:423–431.
   Google Scholar
• Cherian, G., Wolfe, F.H., Sim, J.S., 1996b. Feeding dietary oils with tocopherols: effects on internal qualities of eggs during storage. J. Food Sci. 61:15–18.
   Google Scholar
• Council of the European Communities, 1991. Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/1991 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs. In: Official Journal, L 198, 22/07/1991, pp 1–15.
   Google Scholar
• Council of the European Communities, 1999a. Regulation (EC) No. 74/1999 of July 1999 on laying hens welfare. In: Official Journal, L 203, 03/08/1999, pp 53–57.
   Google Scholar
• Council of the European Communities, 1999b. Regulation (EC) No. 1804/1999 of July 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production. In: Official Journal, L 222, 24/08/1999, pp 1–28.
   Google Scholar
• Franchini, A., Sirri, F., Tallarico, N., Minelli, G., Iaffaldano, N., Meluzzi, A., 2002. Oxidative stability and sensory and functional properties of eggs from laying hens fed supranutritional doses of vitamins E and C. Poultry Sci. 81:1744–1750.
   Google Scholar
• Galobart, J., Barroeta, A.C., Baucells, M.D., Codony, R., Ternes, W., 2001a. Effect of dietary supplementation with rosemary extract and α-tocopheryl acetate on lipid oxidation in eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Poultry Sci. 80:460–467.
   Google Scholar
• Galobart, J., Barroeta, A.C., Baucells, M.D., Guardiola, F., 2001b. Lipid oxidation in fresh and spraydried eggs enriched with n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids during storage as affected by dietary vitamin E and canthaxanthin supplementation. Poultry Sci.80:327–337.
   Google Scholar
• Garmyn, M., Ribaya-Mercado, J.D., Russell, R.M., Bhawan, J., Gilchrest, B.A., 1995. Effect of ß-carotene supplementation on the human sunburn reaction. Exp. Dermatol. 4:104–111.
   Google Scholar
• Gebert, S., Messikommer, R., Pfirter, H.P., Bee, G., Wenk, C., 1998. Dietary fats and vitamin E in diets for laying hens: effects on laying performance, storage stability and fatty acid composition of eggs. Archiv. Geflugelkd. 62:214–222.
   Google Scholar
• Haq, A., Bailey, C.A., Chinnah, A., 1996. Effects of β-carotene, canthaxanthin, lutein, and vitamin e on neonatal immunity of chicks when supplemented in the broiler breeder diets. Poultry Sci. 75:1092–1097.
   Google Scholar
• Honikel, K.O., 1998. Qualitat ökologisch erzeugter Lebensmittel tierischer herkun. Dtsch. Tierarztl. Wschr. 105:327–329.
   Google Scholar
• Hovi, M., Sundrum, A., Thamsborg, S.M., 2003. Animal health and welfare in organic livestock production in Europe: current state and future challenges. Livest. Prod. Sci. 80:41–53.
   Google Scholar
• ISMEA, 2007. Bio, consumi frenati nel 2006, ISMEA – Ultime notizie 27 febbraio, Roma, Italy. Home page address: http:www.ismea.it/flex/cm/pages/Serve-BLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1099.
   Google Scholar
• Kouba, M., 2003. Quality of organic animal products. Livest. Prod. Sci. 80:33–40.
   Google Scholar
• Kovacs, G., Dublecz, K., Husveth, F., Wagner, L., Gerendaid, D., Orban, J., Manilla, H., 1998. Effect of different hybrids, strains and age of laying hens on the cholesterol content of the table egg. Acta Vet. Hung. 46:285–294.
   Google Scholar
• Lewis, P.D., Morris, T.R., Perry, G.C., 1996. Lighting and mortality rates in domestic fowl. Brit. Poultry Sci. 37:295–300.
   Google Scholar
• Lopez-Bote, C.J., Sanz Arias, A.I., Rey, A.I., Castano, A., Isabel, B., Thos, J., 1998. Effect of free-range feeding on n-3 fatty acid and α-tocopherol content and oxidative stability of eggs. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 72:33–40.
   Google Scholar
• Lundeberg, A., Keeling, L.J., 1999. The impact of social factors on nesting in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 64:57–69.
   Google Scholar
• Mashaly, M.M., Hendricks, G.L., Kalama, M.A., Gehad, A.E., Abbas, A.O., Patterson, P.H., 2004. Effect of Heat Stress on Production Parameters and Immune Responses of Commercial Laying Hens. Poultry Sci. 83:889–894.
   Google Scholar
• Meluzzi, A., Tallarico, N., Manfreda G., Sirri, F., Franchini A., 2000. Effect of dietary vitamin E on the quality of table eggs enriched with n-3 long chain fatty acids. Poultry Sci. 79:539–545.
   Google Scholar
• Minelli, G., Sirri, F., Folegatti, E., Meluzzi, A., Franchini, A., 2007. Egg quality traits of laying hens reared in organic and conventional systems. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. 6(Suppl.1):728–730.
   Google Scholar
• Moller, A.P., Biard, C., Blount, J.D., Houston, D.C., Ninni, P., Saino, N., Surai, P.F., 2000. Carotenoiddependent signals: indicator of foraging efficiency, immunocompetence or detoxification ability? Avian Poult. Biol. Rev. 11:137–159.
   Google Scholar
• Mueller, C.D., Scott, H.M., 1940. The porosity of the egg-shell in relation to hatchability. Poultry Sci. 19:163–166.
   Google Scholar
• Mugnai, C., 2008. Produzione di uova biologiche: welfare, performance e qualità. PhD Diss., Università di Perugia, Italy.
   Google Scholar
• Nardone, A., Valfrè, F., 1999. Effects of changing production methods on quality of meat, milk and eggs. Livest. Prod. Sci. 59:162–165.
   Google Scholar
• Roland, D.A., 1979. Factor influencing shell quality of aging hens. Poultry Sci. 58:774–777.
   Google Scholar
• Rossi, M., 2007. Influence of the laying hen housing systems on table egg characteristics. pp 49-51 in Proc. 18th Eur. Symp. WPSA on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Prague, Czech Republic.
   Google Scholar
• Sauveur, B, 1991. Mode élevage des poules et qualité de l’œuf de consommation. Prod. Anim. 4:123–130.
   Google Scholar
• Singleton, V.L., Rossi, J.A., 1965. Colorimetrics of total phenolics with phosphomolibdic phosphotungstenic acid reagents. Am. J. Enol. Viticult. 16:144–158.
   Google Scholar
• Spackman, D., 1987. Detrimental effects of Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis live vaccines on egg quality in the field and laboratory. pp 67-70 in Proc. 37th Western Poultry Disease Conference, Davis, CA, USA.
   Google Scholar
• Sponenberg, D.P., Christman, C., 1995. A conservation breeding handbook. Ed. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Pittsboro, NC, USA.
   Google Scholar
• Stahl, W., Heinrich, U., Jungmann, H., von Laar, J., Schietzel, M., Sies, H., Tronnier, H., 1998. Increased dermal carotenoid levels assessed by non invasive reflection spectrophotometry correlate with serum levels in women ingesting betatene. J. Nutr. 128:903–907.
   Google Scholar
• Stahl, W., Sies, H., 2002. Carotenoids and Protection against Solar UV Radiation. Skin Pharmacol. Appl. 15:291–296.
   Google Scholar
• StataCorp, 2005. Stata Statistical Software: Release 9.0. College Station, Texas, USA.
   Google Scholar
• Summers, J.D., Leeson, S., 1983. Factors influencing early egg size. Poultry Sci. 62:1155–1159.
   Google Scholar
• Sundrum, A., 2001. Organic livestock farming. A critical review. Livest. Prod. Sci. 67:207–215.
   Google Scholar
• Surai, P.F., Noble, R.C., Speake, B.K., 1996. Tissuespecific differences in antioxidant distribution and susceptibility to lipid peroxidation during development of chick embryo. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1304:1–10.
   Google Scholar
• Tengerdy, R.P., Lacetera, N.G., Nockels, C.F., 1990. Effects of β-carotene on disease protection and humoral immunity in chickens. Avian Dis. 34:848–854.
   Google Scholar
• USDA, 2005. Food and Nutrient Data Base for Dietary Studies 1.0, Food Surveys Research. Home page address: http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/fsrg
   Google Scholar
• Wang, T., Bengtsson, G., Kärnefelt, J., Björn, L.O., 2001. Provitamin and vitamin d2 in cladina spp. over a latitudinal gradient: possible correlation with UV levels. J. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 62:118–122.
   Google Scholar
• Williams, K.C., 1992. Some factors affecting albumen quality with particular reference to Haugh unit score. World. Poultry Sci. J. 48:5–16.
   Google Scholar
• Zaspel, J.B., Csallany, S., 1983. Determination of alpha-tocopherol in tissue and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. Anal. Biochem. 30:146–150.
   Google Scholar