THE system of rearing layers either in deep litter or in cages is an important factor having considerable effect in egg quality as pects of poultry. An ample amount of research has been carried over in the recent past in regards to improving the quality of eggs being produced in the country.

The credit for this extensive research and development goes to a wide number government as well as non-government organizations. One such R&D programme was introduced recently at Namakkal poultry belt in Tamil Nadu where both the deep litter system as well as cages were put into use.

The study was conducted in commercial layer farms in and around Namakkal. Ten commercial layer farms, five each in deep litter and cage system of management

were selected for the study. The selection was so made that the birds in all the farms were of the same strain, same age and kept under similar managemental conditions except for the system of rearing. The study was conducted for 20 weeks from the start of lay. The study period was divide into five intervals, each comprising 28 days.

A sample of 30 eggs per day per farm for three consecutive days was collected for each 28-day period. Hence, a total of 90 eggs per farm per period was collected. The egg quality traits like egg weight, shape index, Haugh unit, yolk index, yolk color, incidence of blood or meat spots and shell thickness were measured.

It was found that the birds reared in cages had significantly better egg weight than those in deep litter. The eggs of cage reared birds also had better shapes than those in deep litter. The rearing system also showed a highly significant effect on albumin index. The eggs from caged birds had better albumen index than from deep litter. The birds in cage system at 21-24 weeks of age had better albumen index followed by those in deep litter system at 29-32 weeks of age.

Eggs from cages were clean meaning lesser possibility of bacteruial contamination as compared to soiled eggs in deep litter. There was also a highly significant difference in egg yolk index due to the rearing system. The eggs laid in cages had better yolk index than those laid in deep litter.

However, the system of rearing did not exert any influence on the egg yolk colour and there was no significant difference in egg shell thickness. Caged birds during 21-24 weeks of age and deep litter birds during 25-28 weeks of age had better shell thickness than the rest.

Abhinav Saikia