Eggs

Question 1

What are different egg production systems?

Answer 1

• Barn
• Free-range
• Organic
• Enriched colony cage

Question 2

What is max stocking density for for barn systems?
how many nest boxes per hens should there be?

Answer 2

• 9 hens per square metre (EU)
  -british lion = 16.5birds per square metre
• one nest box per 5 hens

Question 3

what is maximum stocking density for free range hens?
+ other requirements

Answer 3

• 2,500 hens per hectare (EU)
  -2000 birds per hectare (UK)
• Outdoor shading provided
• One pop-hole per 600 birds - open 8hrs a day

Question 4

What is stocking density of organic hens?

Answer 4

• 6 hens per square metre
• Maximum flock size of 3,000 birds

Question 5

What is included in egg identification?

Answer 5

• Stamp number =
  -0 = organic
  -1 = free-range
  -2 = barn
  -3 = caged
• British lion = British eggs vaccinated against salmonella
• Best before date
• Farm ID + country of origin

Question 6

What are different grades of eggs?

Answer 6

• Grade A =
  -highest grade, clean, fresh, internally perfect + shell intact
• Grade B =
  -eggs are broken out + pasteurised
• Industrial eggs =
  -non-food use only + used in products such as shampoo + soap

Question 7

What are 3 parts of an egg?

Answer 7

• Shell / cuticle
• White / albumen
• Yolk

Question 8

What prevents the yolk from leaking into albumen?

Answer 8

• Vitalline membrane

Question 9

What are common internal + egg shell faults?

Answer 9

• Double yolked eggs - young highly productive laying hens
• Blood spot in eggs
• Meat spots in eggs
• Watery whites - older hens (viral disease)
• Abnormal yolk colour - green yolks if eat a lot of herbage
• Mobile + bubbly airspace - ruptured inner membrane
• Bacteria + fungal contamination = black, red or green dots
• Misshaped eggs (poor albumen quality)
• Rough shelled eggs
• Pale shelled eggs - only problem for consumers
• Soft + weak shelled eggs - old hens
• Cracked eggs - hairline, star cracks + pinhole cracks
• Dirty + glazed shells

Question 10

When do you have to register with APHA egg marketing inspectors?

Answer 10

• If you have more than 350hens
• If you have 50 or more hens and your eggs are marketed at local public markets
• If any of your eggs are marketed to registered packing centres