Avian Production Management

EGG QUALITY

External Characteristics and Grading of Shell Eggs

•  A normal chicken egg is ovate in shape.
• Wide variation in shape may lead to breakages during handling and transport. For easy transportation and merchandising of egg, the egg should possess normal external characteristic.
• If shape and size are abnormal, the eggs are liable to break. Similarly, thin shell and weak shell egg or shell less eggs are liable to break and are unfit for transportation.
• Moreover, eggs with thin shells loose their quality quickly.
• Shell colour and other external characteristics will determine the market acceptability.
• Clean eggs will be sold at premium price, than dirty eggs.