Laying efficiency and egg quality in early laying phase of Hisex brown layer

The purpose of this research is to study the laying efficiency in terms of hen-housed egg production and egg size during incipient stage besides to study the characteristic of egg quality. The study was carried out in layer farm located in Kuantan, Pahang. A total of thirty 18 weeks old of Hisex Brown layer were used in this experiment. Hen- housed egg production per week, egg weight and egg quality were recorded. Egg quality includes shape index, height of albumen, yolk-albumen ratio, haugh units, and meat and blood spot. Hen-house egg production per week and egg size(g) in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks of lay were 0.867, 2.630, 4.567, 6.467 and 6.630 and 39.54, 43.67, 48.09, 49.89 and 51.69 respectively. ANOVA showed that, hen-housed egg production per week increased linearly until 5th week of lay. Egg weight showed highly significant (p<0.01) difference amongst different weeks of lay. Of the external and internal quality of eggs, all were found to be significant between weeks except shape index. Meat spot and blood spot defects were found to be decreases with advancement of laying cycle. The results interprets that eggs laid early in laying phase are poor in quality and apart from fewer in number. To reach normal stage, it requires about 5 weeks in Hisex Brown.