Elk County study examines egg damage RIDGWAY A three-year study of egg damage m Elk County has shown a cracking percentage of 8.76 percent, which amounts to an annual loss of $38,609 in a 70,000- layer operation. The study was conducted by C.M. Skillington, Director of the Elk County Extension Service, and H.C. Jordan, Penn State Extension Specialist m Poultry Science. A total of 3,800 eggs were gathered in the study in 100-egg samples each month from each of four flocks of SCW Leghorns in cages in two large cage houses Each egg was measured for several quality parameters and total number of cracked eggs were calculated into a percent for each handling of the egg starting with AUTO CRANE . 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A total of 2.45 percent of all eggs observed cracked after holding in a standard farm cooler at 55 degrees tem perature and 75 percent humidity over one, two or three nights. There is no apparent explanation for this cracking of eggs occuring when eggs were kept perfectly still in pulp filler flats mside a cooler. The study further showed that 2.15 percent of all eggs were cracked while being laid. These eggs were gathered at the cage LBTA HORSE OR res as model except ntinuous power under load roll-out tray off the belt before it moved. This was the second largest percentage cracks for the entire study. The third and fourth greatest areas of egg damage were quite similar with 1.66 percent damaged during washing and 1.64 percent cracked during belt gathering. The lease amount of egg damage .855 percent occured during candling and weighing. This was virtually the same for the first six month of lay as well as the second six-month of lay. Total egg damage was 8.76% for 3800 eggs from all four flocks over three years. Noticeable differences occurred between the first six months and the second six months of lay Nearly twice as many eggs were ATTENTION FARMERS... Now Is The Time To Think About Getting Rid Of Those Pesty Flies. CREUTZBURG, INC* Livestock Supplies On The Farm Service-PH: 717-768-7181 Open Daily - 8 to 5; Saturday 8 to 3 * PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE BY MAIL SUPPLIES FOR ALL YOUR FARMING NEEDS ■ EC I Dairy Supplies ■ WIC Barn Equipment Send For CREUTZBURG, INC. FREE CATALOG Lincoln Highway East. Box 7 Paradise. PA 17562 NAME STREET CITY. STATE PYRENONE DAIRY AEROSOL BEEF & DAIRY SPRAY ■ Anchor Animal Health Products ■ Ear Tags & Leg Bands • ZIP . damaged at point of lay the second six months of lay compared ot the first six months of lay. Three times as many eggs were damaged during gathering the second six months compared to the first six months of lay. A total of .67 percent fewer eggs were shown to open or become damaged in the cooler during the second six months compared to the first six months of production. Twice as many eggs showed damage during washing the second six months compared to the first six months of lay. If a 30-cent per dozen lower pnce is paid for cracked eggs compared to Grade A eggs from these 70,000 layers, the normal production of 21 dozen marketable eggs per bird housed or 1,470,000 dozen total times the 8.755 percent eggshell damage means 128,698.5 dozen lew PHARES S. 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This cracked egg problem has been reduced about two percent per year for an annual savings of 29,400 dozen at $.30/doz or (8,820 increase in income each year. However, egg production and egg quality have also been increasing. This study indicates efforts mav be necessary to slow machinery down and/or use cage plastic floor inserts in cages the second six months of lay to bounce-em-easy when eggs are laid. Also needed are further studies of feed quality from home-mix feed mills as it relates to eggshell quality. Strain of bird and how pullets are raised along with health records need more study to prevent ex cessive eggshell damage. CALL US FOR | FREE I ESTIMATES I on TOP QUALITY BARN SPRAY PAINTING loncept In Penetration And Adhesion. Average Barn *6so°° BRUNING
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