Quality of eggs from commercial laying hens stored in different periods of temperature and storage

SUMMARY The study aimed at assessing the quality of commercial laying hen eggs stored under different temperatures and for different storage periods. 360 eggs were collected soon after laying by DeKalb White laying hens. All eggs were identified, weighed, and randomly distributed in trays, being 150 stored at room temperature (26.5 ± 0.7°C), 150 other placed in trays under refrigeration (7.3 ± 0.5°C), and the remaining 60 eggs were set apart so the assessment could be performed on the first day. The trial design was completely randomized 2×11, scheme factorial, with two storage temperatures and six storage periods (zero, six, 12, 18, 24 and 30 days), with 30 repetitions. The assessed variables were egg weights, absolute and relative weights of albumen, yolk and shell, albumen height, specific gravity, Haugh unit, albumen diameter, albumen index and yolk. The values of absolute and relative weights of egg, albumen and yolk, albumen height, specific gravity, Haugh Unit, diameter and indices of albumen and yolk were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by the storage temperature and period. The absolute weight does not of shell (P>0.05) were influenced by different temperatures, however, the percentages of shell were influenced (P<0.05) linearly by storage time of eggs. It can be concluded that the eggs maintain high quality when stored for up to six days after laying, at room temperature, and maintain excellent quality when stored under refrigeration for up to 30 days.

摘要 本研究旨在评估不同储存温度与储存时长下商品蛋鸡所产鸡蛋的品质。共收集360枚迪卡白（DeKalb White）蛋鸡产蛋后不久的鸡蛋。所有鸡蛋均完成标识与称重后，随机分组装盘：150枚置于室温（26.5±0.7℃）储存，150枚置于冷藏环境（7.3±0.5℃）储存，剩余60枚单独留存，用于首日品质测定。本试验采用完全随机2×11因子设计，设置2种储存温度与6个储存时长梯度（0、6、12、18、24、30天），每组设30次重复。本次测定的指标包括：蛋重、蛋清、蛋黄及蛋壳的绝对重量与相对重量、蛋清高度、比重、哈氏单位（Haugh unit）、蛋清直径、蛋清指数与蛋黄指数。蛋重、蛋清与蛋黄的绝对重量及相对重量、蛋清高度、比重、哈氏单位、蛋清与蛋黄直径及指数均受储存温度与时长的显著影响（P<0.05）。蛋壳绝对重量不受储存温度的显著影响（P>0.05），但蛋壳占比随鸡蛋储存时长呈线性变化且影响显著（P<0.05）。综上，商品鸡蛋于室温下储存不超过6天时仍可维持较高品质，于冷藏环境下储存不超过30天时则可保持优异品质。