Effect of temperature and storage of eggs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature and period of storage on the quality of eggs of commercial laying hens submitted to diets with corn, soy, and vegetal oils with energy level of 2850 kcal ME/kg and 18% of protein. The experimental procedure involved 224 commercial laying hens of the HY-LINE W-36 line, which were 23 weeks of age, divided into 5 cycles of 28 days. The isolated effect and the interaction of storage temperature (ambient and refrigeration) and storage period (7, 14 e 21 day) were evaluated. The variables studied were loss of weight, percentage of the yolk, percentage of the white, specific gravity, Haugh units, and coloration of raw egg yolk. The increase in the period of the storage of eggs, independent of the maintenance temperature, caused egg weight loss and reduced the specific gravity, Haugh unit values, and coloration of the raw egg yolk. The eggs kept under refrigeration presented (p < 0.05) smaller loss of weight and better (p < 0.05) percentage of the yolk, specific gravity, Haugh units and coloration of the raw egg yolk when compared with eggs kept at room temperature. It was evidenced that the quality of eggs changes significantly (p > 0.05) according to the storage temperature and period of storage, mainly for the following parameters: weight loss, percentages of the yolk and, specific gravity, and Haugh units.