Methods to Evaluate the Eggshell Quality of Table Eggs

The objectives of this study were to determine the most suitable probe diameter and egg position to perform the eggshell breaking strength test using a texturometer, as well as the most reliable parameter to estimate eggshell quality when no electronic devices are available. Eggshell quality (eggshell breaking strength, eggshell weight, eggshell percentage, eggshell thickness, shell weight per unit surface area) was evaluated as a function of texturometer probe diameter (2, 10, and 75mm), egg type (white and brown) and egg position (horizontal and vertical). In the experiment, 2520 eggs from 60-week-old commercial layers were separated by specific gravity measured by flotation method in saline solution (1.070 to 1.100 g/cm3 with intervals of 0.005 g/cm3).Data were submitted to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design, and means were compared by Tukeys test (p 0.05). Correlations between characteristics were calculated using the Pearsons method. The results showed that the most suitable probe diameter for the analysis of eggshell breaking strength was 75 mm, independently of egg positioning or type egg. White eggs should be positioned vertically in relation to the probe, whereas brown can be placed in any position. When it is not possible to evaluate eggshell quality using electronic devices, the measurement of shell weight per unit surface area is recommended.(AU)

Methods to Evaluate the Eggshell Quality of Table Eggs

The objectives of this study were to determine the most suitable probe diameter and egg position to perform the eggshell breaking strength test using a texturometer, as well as the most reliable parameter to estimate eggshell quality when no electronic devices are available. Eggshell quality (eggshell breaking strength, eggshell weight, eggshell percentage, eggshell thickness, shell weight per unit surface area) was evaluated as a function of texturometer probe diameter (2, 10, and 75mm), egg type (white and brown) and egg position (horizontal and vertical). In the experiment, 2520 eggs from 60-week-old commercial layers were separated by specific gravity measured by flotation method in saline solution (1.070 to 1.100 g/cm3 with intervals of 0.005 g/cm3).Data were submitted to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design, and means were compared by Tukeys test (p 0.05). Correlations between characteristics were calculated using the Pearsons method. The results showed that the most suitable probe diameter for the analysis of eggshell breaking strength was 75 mm, independently of egg positioning or type egg. White eggs should be positioned vertically in relation to the probe, whereas brown can be placed in any position. When it is not possible to evaluate eggshell quality using electronic devices, the measurement of shell weight per unit surface area is recommended.

Classificação de características produtivas fenotípicas de diferentes raças de poedeiras através da mineração de dados

The study was conducted with the database obtained from the Breeding Program of Brown Egg Laying Hens of the Poultry Laboratory (LAVIC) of the Department of Animal Science of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), where it is used poultry breeds such as White Plymouth Rock (PRW), Barred Plymouth Rock (PRB) e Red Rhode Island (RIR). The data used referred to two generations of these three breeds during the first production cycle of 2009 and 2010. The parameters evaluated were: weekly rate of egg laying, egg weight and body weight. The research was divided into two approaches of analysis, the first being performed with the production data, aiming to identify critical points of phenotypic selections related to zootechnical characterization, and the second approach consisted in the association of the same production parameters together with the weather data of Santa Maria - RS. The data was analyzed using the Data Mining technique, using the classification task by building the decision tree with the J48 algorithm. The data mining indicated the average rate of egg laying at 25 weeks of age and the average weight of eggs at 33 weeks of age, and pointed these as the main variables related to the differentiation of breeds studied, (accuracy of 83.3%). On the second approach, the decision trees obtained showed accuracy between 88% and 91%, suggesting a strong association between the environmental variables and the production performance of the birds. The PRW breed is more sensitive to heat than the RIR and the PRB breed and they showed a higher rate of production during the pre-peak phase. The data mining allowed to classify the productivity of the brown egg laying hens, which may indicate environmental influences on the phenotype of the different breeds studied.

O estudo foi realizado com o banco de dados do Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Poedeiras de Ovos Marrons do Laboratório de Avicultura (LAVIC) do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), onde são utilizadas aves das raças Plymouth Rock White (PRW), Plymouth Rock Barred (PRB) e Rhode Island Red (RIR). Os dados utilizados foram referentes a duas gerações das três raças durante o primeiro ciclo de produção, dos anos de 2009 e 2010. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: taxa de postura semanal, peso dos ovos e peso corporal. O estudo foi dividido em duas abordagens de análise, a primeira análise foi realizada com os dados produtivos com o objetivo de identificar pontos críticos de seleção fenotípica, relacionados à caracterização zootécnica, e a segunda abordagem consistiu na associação dos mesmos parâmetros produtivos, com os dados climáticos de Santa Maria - RS. Os dados foram analisados pela técnica de Mineração de Dados, sendo utilizada a tarefa de classificação com a construção de árvore de decisão pelo algoritmo J48. A mineração dos dados indicou a taxa de postura média na 25ª semana de idade e posteriormente o peso médio dos ovos na 33ª semana de idade como as principais variáveis relacionadas com a diferenciação das raças estudadas, (precisão de 0,833). Na segunda abordagem, as árvores de classificação obtidas apresentaram precisão entre 0,88 e 0,91, sugerindo uma forte associação entre as variáveis ambientais e o desempenho produtivo das aves. Poedeiras PRW são mais sensíveis ao calor que as RIR e PRB e apresentam, na fase de pré-pico, uma maior taxa de postura. A Mineração de Dados permite classificar a produtividade das raças de poedeiras de ovos marrons, podendo indicar as influências ambientais sobre o fenótipo das diferentes raças estudadas.

Classificação de características produtivas fenotípicas de diferentes raças de poedeiras através da mineração de dados

The study was conducted with the database obtained from the Breeding Program of Brown Egg Laying Hens of the Poultry Laboratory (LAVIC) of the Department of Animal Science of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), where it is used poultry breeds such as White Plymouth Rock (PRW), Barred Plymouth Rock (PRB) e Red Rhode Island (RIR). The data used referred to two generations of these three breeds during the first production cycle of 2009 and 2010. The parameters evaluated were: weekly rate of egg laying, egg weight and body weight. The research was divided into two approaches of analysis, the first being performed with the production data, aiming to identify critical points of phenotypic selections related to zootechnical characterization, and the second approach consisted in the association of the same production parameters together with the weather data of Santa Maria - RS. The data was analyzed using the Data Mining technique, using the classification task by building the decision tree with the J48 algorithm. The data mining indicated the average rate of egg laying at 25 weeks of age and the average weight of eggs at 33 weeks of age, and pointed these as the main variables related to the differentiation of breeds studied, (accuracy of 83.3%). On the second approach, the decision trees obtained showed accuracy between 88% and 91%, suggesting a strong association between the environmental variables and the production performance of the birds. The PRW breed is more sensitive to heat than the RIR and the PRB breed and they showed a higher rate of production during the pre-peak phase. The data mining allowed to classify the productivity of the brown egg laying hens, which may indicate environmental influences on the phenotype of the different breeds studied.

O estudo foi realizado com o banco de dados do Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Poedeiras de Ovos Marrons do Laboratório de Avicultura (LAVIC) do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), onde são utilizadas aves das raças Plymouth Rock White (PRW), Plymouth Rock Barred (PRB) e Rhode Island Red (RIR). Os dados utilizados foram referentes a duas gerações das três raças durante o primeiro ciclo de produção, dos anos de 2009 e 2010. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: taxa de postura semanal, peso dos ovos e peso corporal. O estudo foi dividido em duas abordagens de análise, a primeira análise foi realizada com os dados produtivos com o objetivo de identificar pontos críticos de seleção fenotípica, relacionados à caracterização zootécnica, e a segunda abordagem consistiu na associação dos mesmos parâmetros produtivos, com os dados climáticos de Santa Maria - RS. Os dados foram analisados pela técnica de Mineração de Dados, sendo utilizada a tarefa de classificação com a construção de árvore de decisão pelo algoritmo J48. A mineração dos dados indicou a taxa de postura média na 25ª semana de idade e posteriormente o peso médio dos ovos na 33ª semana de idade como as principais variáveis relacionadas com a diferenciação das raças estudadas, (precisão de 0,833). Na segunda abordagem, as árvores de classificação obtidas apresentaram precisão entre 0,88 e 0,91, sugerindo uma forte associação entre as variáveis ambientais e o desempenho produtivo das aves. Poedeiras PRW são mais sensíveis ao calor que as RIR e PRB e apresentam, na fase de pré-pico, uma maior taxa de postura. A Mineração de Dados permite classificar a produtividade das raças de poedeiras de ovos marrons, podendo indicar as influências ambientais sobre o fenótipo das diferentes raças estudadas.

Classificação de características produtivas fenotípicas de diferentes raças de poedeiras através da mineração de dados

The study was conducted with the database obtained from the Breeding Program of Brown Egg Laying Hens of the Poultry Laboratory (LAVIC) of the Department of Animal Science of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), where it is used poultry breeds such as White Plymouth Rock (PRW), Barred Plymouth Rock (PRB) e Red Rhode Island (RIR). The data used referred to two generations of these three breeds during the first production cycle of 2009 and 2010. The parameters evaluated were: weekly rate of egg laying, egg weight and body weight. The research was divided into two approaches of analysis, the first being performed with the production data, aiming to identify critical points of phenotypic selections related to zootechnical characterization, and the second approach consisted in the association of the same production parameters together with the weather data of Santa Maria - RS. The data was analyzed using the Data Mining technique, using the classification task by building the decision tree with the J48 algorithm. The data mining indicated the average rate of egg laying at 25 weeks of age and the average weight of eggs at 33 weeks of age, and pointed these as the main variables related to the differentiation of breeds studied, (accuracy of 83.3%). On the second approach, the decision trees obtained showed accuracy between 88% and 91%, suggesting a strong association between the environmental variables and the production performance of the birds. The PRW breed is more sensitive to heat than the RIR and the PRB breed and they showed a higher rate of production during the pre-peak phase. The data mining allowed to classify the productivity of the brown egg laying hens, which may indicate environmental influences on the phenotype of the different breeds studied.

O estudo foi realizado com o banco de dados do Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Poedeiras de Ovos Marrons do Laboratório de Avicultura (LAVIC) do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), onde são utilizadas aves das raças Plymouth Rock White (PRW), Plymouth Rock Barred (PRB) e Rhode Island Red (RIR). Os dados utilizados foram referentes a duas gerações das três raças durante o primeiro ciclo de produção, dos anos de 2009 e 2010. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: taxa de postura semanal, peso dos ovos e peso corporal. O estudo foi dividido em duas abordagens de análise, a primeira análise foi realizada com os dados produtivos com o objetivo de identificar pontos críticos de seleção fenotípica, relacionados à caracterização zootécnica, e a segunda abordagem consistiu na associação dos mesmos parâmetros produtivos, com os dados climáticos de Santa Maria - RS. Os dados foram analisados pela técnica de Mineração de Dados, sendo utilizada a tarefa de classificação com a construção de árvore de decisão pelo algoritmo J48. A mineração dos dados indicou a taxa de postura média na 25ª semana de idade e posteriormente o peso médio dos ovos na 33ª semana de idade como as principais variáveis relacionadas com a diferenciação das raças estudadas, (precisão de 0,833). Na segunda abordagem, as árvores de classificação obtidas apresentaram precisão entre 0,88 e 0,91, sugerindo uma forte associação entre as variáveis ambientais e o desempenho produtivo das aves. Poedeiras PRW são mais sensíveis ao calor que as RIR e PRB e apresentam, na fase de pré-pico, uma maior taxa de postura. A Mineração de Dados permite classificar a produtividade das raças de poedeiras de ovos marrons, podendo indicar as influências ambientais sobre o fenótipo das diferentes raças estudadas.