The Layer Industry Flashcards
Why has there been an increase in egg production over the years?
there has been a massive increase due to nutrition, reproduction - selection, and management practices
What is the average amount of eggs a hen will lay in her lifetime?
average 296 eggs
What percentage of the laying hens will lay an egg in one day?
about 81%
What is the number one state for egg production?
Iowa
What are other top laying states?
Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Michigan, California
Where does MO rank for layers?
11 :((
What are eggs used for (percents)?
60.1% - retail shell eggs
30.1% - further processing
7% - food service
2.8% - exported
How much space of laying hens provided in caged systems?
67 sq in per bird
What is automated in a laying system
food, water, egg collection
Why is weight management important for laying hens?
They need to stay a relatively small size so they produce eggs that will fit in cartons
What do the hens stand on in a caged system?
wires, when they are pullets they have paper to stand on
define pullet
a young laying hen that is not laying yet
Aviary
a cage free system, there is no front part on the cages, birds can roam freely
Enriched Cage
a cage free system, adds enrichment options (dust bath, perches, drinkers, nesting boxes)
Floor Housing
a cage free system, less birds and you need to electricity things you don’t want perched, may lay eggs on the ground and they could be stained
Brooding
Having heaters for the chicks, you can brood the whole house of have rooms
How often does a hen lay an egg/ovulate?
every 24-26 hours
define clutch
a group of eggs laid by a bird
How is an egg formed?
a yolk is ovulated, it travels through the oviduct to get a shell
What is special about the development of the hens oviduct?
Only one oviduct developed (typically the left) and the other one does not. If the hen can no longer use one oviduct, the other side will develop.
What are the sperm host glands?
sperm can live 10-14 days in the hen so she does not need to make everyday to fertilize her eggs
When do hens start laying eggs?
at 18 weeks
When is peak laying for hens? How long can they maintain this?
at 32 weeks, they can maintain this for 65-68 weeks
How old are hens when they are culled?
around 18 months, they are no longer as productive
What are the sizes of the eggs in increasing order?
peewee, small, medium, large, extra large, jumbo
define molt
the bird will shed its old feather and will stop laying, it allows the hen to “reset”, happens in January and February or can be induced
How can the industry induce molting?
decrease light and decrease the quality of the diet
What is a spent hen or souper?
she is no longer productively producing eggs
What do they do with hens when they are culled?
euthanized (can not be used in human grade products), can be sent to zoos to feed to the animals
How are the eggs cleaned?
all eggs are cleaned before human consumption
- they need to be dried to avoid bacteria
(the cuticle/bloom on the egg helps keep out bacteria and you remove it when it is washed)
AA quality egg
-shel l= clean and unbroken
-air cell = 1/8th inch or less
-white = clear and firm
-yolk = outline sightly defined and practically free from defects
A Quality
-shell = clean and unbroken
-air cell = 3/16 in or less
-white = clear and reasonably firm
-yolk = outline fairly well defined and practically free from defects
B Quality
-shell = clean to slightly stained and unbroken
- air cell = over 3/16 inch
-white = weak and watery and small blood and meat spots
-yolk = outline plainly visible, enlarged and flat, a visible germ but no blood
Grading eggs is dependent on what?
condition of shell, egg white, egg yolk, and air cell size
Ways to package eggs?
an egg flat –> 30 eggs
an egg carton –> 6,12,18 eggs
What temperature are the eggs cooled to?
45 degrees F, keep constant
Do eggs need to be cooled?
No! they can last us to 2 weeks without being cooled if they still have a cuticle/bloom
define blastoderm/germinal disc
site of fertilization in the egg
define chalaza
spiral structure in the egg that holds the yolk in the center
define albumen
structure in the egg that keeps the chick hydrated and a cushion
what is the purpose of the yolk?
give nutrients to the chick
