Physical evaluation of commercial eggs from Creole hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in La Troncal canton - Ecuador

Abstract

A descriptive research with a mixed approach was carried out with the objective of evaluating the quality of the commercial egg of Creole hens from La Troncal canton - Ecuador, province of Cañar, Ecuador by means of an internal and external physical study of 1200 eggs (La Troncal parish, 400 eggs; Manuel de J. Calle parish, 400 eggs and Pancho Negro parish, 400 eggs). Each parish was considered as a treatment, the averages of the external and internal physical study variables were compared using Tukey’s test (p≤0.05). The most frequent color was blue with 484 eggs. The medium category was the most common based on egg weight. Hens from La Troncal parish produced eggs with higher shell percentage, egg white pH, egg white height and yolk height; Manuel J. Calle parish produced eggs with higher egg weight, shell thickness at the narrow pole, yolk weight and yolk diameter; while Pancho Negro parish produced eggs with higher yolk intensity, yolk pH and egg white index. In conclusion, La Troncal canton commercializes medium-sized Creole eggs, with varied color, mostly blue, acceptable yolk diameter and yolk height, good yolk pigmentation, producing eggs of very good quality.