STUDY OF CERTAIN FACTORS AFFECTING TABLE EGGS SORTING ON WEIGHT CLASSES

M.G. Usturoi

Abstract
    The research has been carried out in a table eggs sorting plant and focused on the dynamics of eggs yield and on the weight of the eggs issued from two laying farms. Two experimental factors were introduced: the farming system (cages and aviary) and fowl age (27, 28, 29 and 30 weeks old). Eggs were calibrated in accordance with the protocol concluded between the sorting plants and the beneficiaries (supermarkets) on 4 weight classes (53-63g; 63-73g; 73-80g; above 80g). The data acquired throughout the 4 study weeks revealed an increase of the eggs yield in both kinds of farming systems (+18.43% in aviary and +18.60% in cages), due to the laying peak period. Another finding was that the proportion of broken or unmarketable eggs increased (+0.03% in aviary system; +0.06% in cage system), due to a shell thickness decrease. It was recorded an increase of the eggs amount yielded in weight categories "63-73 g" (+48.48% in aviary and +44.74% in cage), "73-80 g" (+1.69% and +2.62%) as well as "above 80 g" (+0.27% in both farming systems) and, also, a decrease of those belonging to the lowest weight class, "53-63 g" (-51.37% in aviary and -46.7% in cage); these due to the fact that eggs size is reversely correlated with the laying rate. The results suggest that fowl age and farming system affects both eggs yield level and their weight.

Key words: factors, influence, eggs, sorting, weight, classifying