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Effects of housing system (outdoor vs cages) and age

of laying hens on egg characteristics
H. Van Den Brand Dr. , H.K. Parmentier & B. Kemp
a
Adaptation Physiology Group , Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen
University , Wageningen, The Netherlands
Published online: 19 Oct 2010.

To cite this article: H. Van Den Brand Dr. , H.K. Parmentier & B. Kemp (2004) Effects of housing system (outdoor vs cages)
and age of laying hens on egg characteristics, British Poultry Science, 45:6, 745-752

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071660400014283

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 British Poultry Science Volume 45, Number 6 (December 2004), pp. 745–752

Effects of housing system (outdoor vs cages) and age of laying hens

on egg characteristics
H. VAN DEN BRAND, H.K. PARMENTIER AND B. KEMP
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University,
Wageningen, The Netherlands

Abstract 1. Effects of two housing systems (cages vs outdoor) on external and internal egg
characteristics were investigated.
2. In total 785 eggs from three different lines in cages and 268 eggs from outdoor-housed layers were
examined for egg weight, albumen, yolk and shell content, albumen height and pH, and albumen and
yolk dry matter content.
3. Interactions between layer age and housing systems were found for egg weight, eggshell content,
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albumen height, albumen pH, and dry matter content of the albumen and yolk. This was mainly due to
the greater variation with age in the outdoor layers, compared to the caged layers.
4. Irrespective of age eggs from outdoor layers were relatively broader than eggs from the caged layers.
Yolk colour was considerably darker in the outdoor group (11.0 vs 9.3).
5. We concluded that it is more difficult to maintain constant external and internal egg quality in an
outdoor housing system than in a battery cage system. Factors that determine the greater fluctuations
in internal egg quality need to be investigated.

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the European Union, battery cages for laying
hens will be prohibited from 2012, meaning
that alternative housing systems, including
free range or outdoor systems, are being
developed. The consequences of alternative
housing systems (especially outdoor systems)
for egg quality are currently unclear. Some
studies have described the effects of different
housing systems on egg quality (Torges et al.,
1976; Pavlovski et al., 1981), but there has
been little research on egg quality of current
breeds in outdoor systems (Leyendecker et al.,
2001a,b).
As outdoor systems become more impor-
tant, their effects on egg characteristics (exter-
nal and internal) need to be clear. Another
factor influencing egg quality is layer age
(Lapão et al., 1999; Silversides and Scott,
2001) and changes in egg quality with advan-
cing age may be dependent on environmental
circumstances, such as housing conditions.
The aim of the current study was to describe
the effects of housing systems (cages vs outdoor
system) and layer age on external and internal
egg characteristics.
Animals and housing
Eggs from laying hens, originating from ISA
Warren medium heavy layers, divergently
selected for antibody response against sheep
red blood cells (SRBC), were used in both
housing systems. One-third of the hens
had been selected for a high immune response
against SRBC (H line) for 22 generations, one-
third for a low immune response against
SRBC (L line) and the remainder were a
random-bred control line (C line). More details
regarding the background of the selection lines
are described elsewhere (Van den Brand et al.,
2004).
From hatching until 11 weeks of age, all
birds were housed in two-deck breeder cages.
Sexes were kept separately. At 11 weeks of
age, chickens of the three lines were ran-
domly assigned to one of two housing systems:
(1) One hundred and fifty hens (50 of each
line) were housed individually in battery
cages (BC) of 20 cm
40 cm
40 cm. Hens of
the three lines were randomly divided among
cages. The light schedule was 16 h (06:00 to

Correspondence to: Dr. Henry van den Brand, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen, Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University,
PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands. Tel: þ31-317-483120. Fax: þ31-37-485006. E-mail: henry.vandenbrand@wur.nl
Accepted for publication 27th July 2004.

ISSN 0007–1668(print)/ISSN 1466–1799(online)/04/060745—8 ß 2004 British Poultry Science Ltd

DOI: 10.1080/00071660400014283
 746 H. VAN DEN BRAND ET AL.
22:00 h) light 8 h dark, and a stable temperature
was maintained between 17 and 20 C. This
light schedule matched the amount of daylight
for the hens in the outdoor system. (2) In the
outdoor (FR) system 34 hens and 6 cockerels of
the H line, 32 hens and 6 cockerels of the C
line and 30 hens and 6 cockerels of the L line
were kept on a free range system with a large
shelter (5 m
5 m
3 m). Hens and cockerels
could go outside to a pasture of about 350 m2,
where there was a small shelter of straw and
pallets (1.5 m
2 m). In the large shelter,
6 perches of 2.5 m each with a height of 50 cm
were placed on the sawdust floor. Twenty-four
nest boxes were present. The light schedule in
the large shelter was similar to that of the cage
house. In the outdoor system all hens of the three
lines were housed together with the cockerels, so
the origin of individual eggs was not clear.
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All hens (and cockerels) were fed ad libitum,
with a commercial feed for laying hens
(11.82 MJ ME/kg, 160 g CP/kg, 6.2 g lysine/kg
5.5 g methioninene þ cysteine/kg, 37.0 g Ca/kg,
2.9 g available P/kg. Water was available
ad libitum. The beaks of all birds in both housing
systems remained intact.
Egg measurements
Freshly-laid eggs were collected from each
sire family at a layer age of 25, 29, 33, 37, 41,
45, 49, 55 and 59 weeks (June 2002 to February
2003). At each collection period approximately
20 to 30 eggs per line in cages or from the FR
hens were taken. In total 1053 eggs (H line
cage: 273, C line cage: 276, L line cage: 236,
outdoor, 268) were collected and measured
within 3 h of being laid.
Eggs were weighed and the length and
breadth were measured. From these measure-
ments the shape index was calculated (breadth/
length
100). After weighing 50% of the
eggs were broken on to a flat surface and the
height of the albumen was measured halfway
between the yolk and the edge of the inner thick
albumen by using an albumen height gauge
(Ames, Waltham, MA, USA). The colour of
the yolk was determined using the Roche
colour fan (1979). Thereafter the yolk was
separated from the albumen and weighed and
the pH of the albumen was measured using a
standard pH meter (Radiometer Copenhagen
PHM 82, Denmark). The albumen was removed
from the shells and shells plus membranes
were weighed. Shell thickness (without inner
and outer shell membranes; membranes were
removed manually) was measured at three places
(top, middle, bottom), using a micrometer
(Mitutoyo, Miyazaki, Japan). The weight of
the albumen was calculated as the difference
between the egg weight and the weight of the
shell and yolk.
The other 50% of the eggs were stored in a
refrigerator at 5 C for 8 d. To separate the
albumen and yolk easily, the eggs were boiled
for 10 min. After cooling for 5 min in running
water, the shell, yolk and albumen were sepa-
rated and weighed. Dry matter content of the
boiled yolk and albumen was analysed, by drying
the yolk and albumen overnight at 70 C,
followed by 4 h at 103 C.
Statistical analyses
All data were analysed using the GLM procedure
of SAS (1999) with age and housing system
as main effects and the two-way interaction
between these factors. When the main effects
were significant, least square means were sepa-
rated using the least significant difference proce-
dure. Effects of line on egg characteristics in
the BC housed hens are given in Van den Brand
et al. (2004).
RESULTS
Egg production started at 18 weeks of age in the
BC layers, whereas the first egg was laid at 21
weeks of age in the FR layers. At the start of the
experiment (25 weeks of age), the production
percentage was 84 and 75% for the BC and FR
layers, respectively.
Interactions between layer age and housing
system
Several interactions between layer age and
housing system were found. Egg weight increased
with layer age in both housing systems. The FR
layers had lower egg weight than the BC layers at
the beginning of the experiment, but egg weight
increased faster and was greater at a layer
age of 59 weeks (Figure 1). Eggshell percentage
decreased with layer age in the BC group,
whereas eggshell percentage fluctuated with age
in the FR group (Figure 2).
Overall, albumen height and dry matter
content decreased with age, whereas yolk dry
matter content increased with layer age.
Albumen pH increased slightly until week 41
and thereafter decreased. This increase or
decrease with layer age differed between housing
systems, resulting in an interaction between layer
age and housing system. This was demonstrated
for albumen height (Figure 3a), albumen pH
(Figure 3b), albumen dry matter content (Figure
4a) and yolk dry matter content (Figure 4b). For
all these characteristics, the BC group showed a
more consistent increase or decrease with layer
 HOUSING SYSTEM AND EGG QUALITY 747
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Figure 1. Fresh egg weight in relation to layer age and housing system (least square means; overall SEM ¼ 0 .50).

Figure 2. Eggshell percentage in relation to layer age and housing system (least square means; overall SEM ¼ 0 .25).

age, whereas the FR group fluctuated consider-
ably more. In addition to the greater fluctua-
tion with layer age, FR layers showed
more variation in most egg characteristics at a
given age.
For yolk colour also, an interaction
between layer age and housing system was
found, attributable to a low average yolk colour
at week 33 for the FR group (9.2). At other
times, both groups showed similar patterns with
layer age.
Age effects
Regardless of housing system yolk weight
increased with layer age, whereas albumen
weight decreased, resulting in an increase in
yolk: albumen ratio with advancing age (Table 1).
 748 H. VAN DEN BRAND ET AL.
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Figure 3. Albumen height (a; SEM ¼ 0 .51) and albumen pH (b; SEM ¼ 0 .05) in relation to layer age and housing system
(least square means).

Regardless of housing system no effect on
eggshell thickness was found. The shape index
of the eggs decreased with age, meaning that
with increasing age eggs became relatively
longer. Yolk colour changed with age, but no
clear pattern could be observed (Table 2).
characteristics did not differ between the BC and
FR layers (Table 1). Overall, yolk colour was
considerably darker in the eggs of the FR layers
(Table 2).
DISCUSSION

Egg weight and egg shape

Housing effects
The shape index of the eggs differed between
housing system, with relatively wider eggs for
the FR layers (P < 0.001). Other external egg
In the present study, outdoor-housed birds
matured later than caged birds. FR birds also
remained lighter than the BC birds during
the observation period (Van Loon et al., 2004).
 HOUSING SYSTEM AND EGG QUALITY 749
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Figure 4. Egg albumen (a; SEM ¼ 0 .16) and egg yolk (b; SEM ¼ 0 .17) dry matter content in relation to layer age and housing system
(least square means).

As a result of this delayed first oviposition, laying
percentage was lower at the start of the experi-
ment and egg weight was also lower in the FR
layers. With advancing age, egg weight increased
in both housing systems, in agreement with
numerous other studies (Hill and Hall, 1980;
O’Sullivan et al., 1991; Peebles et al., 2000;
Silversides and Scott, 2001). However, as far as
we are aware, the greater increase with advancing
age for FR layers has not previously been
demonstrated. Hughes et al. (1985), Mostert
et al. (1995) and Leyendecker et al. (2001b)
measured egg weight over a period of 40 to 50
weeks, at 4-week intervals, but effects of age or
interactions between housing system and age
were not presented. Overall, Torges et al. (1976)
and Mostert et al. (1995) demonstrated no
effect of housing system on egg weight, in
agreement with the present study, whereas
Leyendecker et al. (2001b) found no difference
in egg weight between cage-housed and FR layers
when white layers (LSL) were used. However,
when brown layers (Lohmann Traditional) were
used, egg weight was lower in the FR system.
Pavlovski et al. (1981) and Hughes et al. (1985)
reported greater egg weight for FR layers than
for caged layers. Based on the interactions we
found, it can be concluded that it is important
 750 H. VAN DEN BRAND ET AL.

Table 1. Effects of layer age and housing on egg weight, egg shape (breadth/height
100), proportions of eggs and yolk:albumen ratio
(g/g) (least square means)
Egg weight (g) Shape (%) Yolk (%) Albumen (%) Shell (%) Shell thickness (mm) Yolk/albumen
N 1053 1053 510 510 526 519 510

Age of layers (weeks)

25 49.05f 77.33a 27.79h 62.99a 12.73 0.328 38.6f
29 52.19e 76.76a 30.65g 60.75b 12.40 0.319 44.3e
33 51.63e 75.31b 31.42efg 60.05bc 12.43 0.310 46.0de
37 55.80d 75.29b 33.01bcde 58.39cd 12.86 0.318 49.5bcd
41 57.69cd 74.81bc 32.68cdf 58.95cd 12.45 0.321 48.7cd
45 57.98cd 74.98bc 34.39ac 57.39de 12.65 0.320 52.4ab
49 59.92bc 74.65bc 33.81ad 58.01de 12.37 0.323 51.3ac
55 60.78ab 73.70cd 35.02a 56.50e 13.07 0.333 54.2a
59 62.56a 72.85d 34.48ab 57.28de 12.61 0.317 52.9ab
SEM 0.50 0.32 0.37 0.38 0.19 0.005 0.8
Housing
Cage 56.38 74.70b 32.74 58.79 12.59 0.321 49.0
Outdoor 56.41 75.44a 32.40 59.05 12.64 0.321 48.3
SEM 0.24 0.15 0.17 0.18 0.09 0.003 0.4
Source of variation P-value
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Age < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 0.14 0.21 < 0.001
Housing 0.92 < 0.001 0.17 0.31 0.72 0.85 0.18
Age
housing 0.002 0.61 0.77 0.64 0.03 0.15 0.79
a—h
Least square means of layer age and housing lacking a common superscript differ (P < 0.05).

Table 2. Effects of layer age and housing on albumen height, albumen pH, yolk colour and dry matter content of the albumen and yolk
(least square means)
Albumen height (mm) Albumen pH Yolk colour DM albumen (%) DM yolk (%)
N 511 511 517 512 511

Age of layer (weeks)

25 6.58a 8.26ab 10.2ab 13.61a 49.96c
29 6.48a 8.13bc 9.9b 12.92b 50.95b
33 6.32ab 8.29a 9.2c 12.58bc 50.92b
37 6.34ab 8.31a 10.2ab 12.62bc 51.07b
41 5.52bc 8.32a 10.3ab 12.28cd 51.38ab
45 5.61bc 8.00cd 10.6a 12.03d 51.18ab
49 5.21c 8.03cd 10.4ab 11.77d 51.68a
55 5.86ac 7.94d 10.4ab 11.95d 51.68a
59 5.71ac 8.06cd 10.4ab 12.09d 51.17ab
SEM 0.19 0.04 0.1 0.11 0.13
Housing
Cage 5.88 8.14 9.3b 12.38 51.10
Outdoor 6.04 8.16 11.0a 12.48 51.12
SEM 0.09 0.02 0.1 0.05 0.06
Source of variation P-value
Age < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001
Housing 0.21 0.36 < 0.001 0.18 0.88
Age
housing 0.04 < 0.001 < 0.001 0.002 < 0.001
a—d
Least square means of layer age and housing lacking a common superscript differ (P < 0.05).

to investigate effects of housing systems in layers it could be advantageous to produce

relation to layer age.
In agreement with the present study,
Pavlovski et al. (1981) found relatively longer
eggs in caged than in outdoor-housed layers. A
reason for this phenomenon is hard to give, but
one might speculate that relatively wider eggs
have a lower ratio between surface and volume,
resulting in relatively less weight loss due to
evaporation. In outdoor systems, layers are living
under more variable circumstances, and for these
eggs that are less sensitive to environmental
circumstances.
Eggshell quality
Eggshell percentage showed an interaction
between age and housing system, with overall
comparable values for both housing systems.
Shell thickness did not differ between housing
systems, but showed a non-significant similar
 HOUSING SYSTEM AND EGG QUALITY
interaction between age and housing system as
eggshell percentage. This means that in caged
birds, eggshell quality decreased with age,
whereas in outdoor birds, this characteristic
remained constant or even increased with age.
In most studies (Pavlovski et al., 1981; Hughes
et al., 1985; Mostert et al., 1995; Leyendecker
et al., 2001b) greater eggshell thickness or
strength was found in eggs from outdoor layers.
Eggshell thickness in relation to housing system
could possibly be used as a bio-indicator for
layer health and/or layer production. Effects
of age on eggshell percentage and eggshell
thickness differ between studies (with cage
housing). O’Sullivan et al. (1991) and Peebles
et al. (2000) found no clear effect, whereas
Silversides and Scott (2001) found a negative
effect of age on eggshell percentage. These
somewhat ambiguous results between studies
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might be explained by the amount of dietary
Ca and available P, which can strongly affect
eggshell quality (Abdallah et al., 1993; Keshavarz
and Nakajima, 1993; Leeson et al., 1993).
Whether Ca and P metabolism is different in
outdoor layers is not clear, but it can be
speculated that walking activity results in more
effective mineral metabolism.
Internal egg quality
Effects of age on yolk and albumen percentage
and consequently on yolk:albumen ratio are
largely in agreement with other studies
(O’Sullivan et al., 1991; Peebles et al., 2000;
Silversides and Scott, 2001). Albumen height
decreased with age in the caged layers, whereas
the outdoor layers showed more variable
albumen height with increasing age. In most
studies albumen height decreased with age
(Williams, 1992; Lapão et al., 1999; Silversides
and Scott, 2001), but these studies were all in
cage-housed layers. Effects of housing systems
on albumen height are few and ambiguous.
Pavlovski et al. (1981) reported considerably
higher albumen height in outdoor hens, whereas
Mostert et al. (1995) found (non-significant)
lower Haugh units. Leyendecker et al.
(2001b) showed that the effect of housing
system on Haugh units depends on strain. In
LSL hens, significantly lower values were found
for outdoor hens, whereas in Lohmann
Traditional hens non-significantly higher values
were found for this housing system compared to
cages. This strongly suggests an important
dependence of albumen characteristics on
experimental conditions. Effects of housing
systems on albumen pH have hardly been
investigated but, in caged layers albumen
pH decreased with layer age (Lapão et al.,
1999; Silversides and Scott, 2001). In the present
751
study, an increase in albumen pH was found
until week 41, with subsequently a decrease.
The reason for this contrast with the literature,
in which a continuous increase in albumen pH
with age is shown, is unclear. Possible reasons
for the increase in albumen pH with layer
age have been summarised by Lapão et al.
(1999). It could be due to a more advanced
development of the embryo at oviposition or
greater metabolic activity in eggs of older
layers. Benton et al. (2001) demonstrated that
fertilized eggs have higher albumen pH and
lower albumen height than unfertilized eggs.
Because the FR layers were housed together with
cockerels and BC layers were housed individu-
ally, lower albumen height and higher albumen
pH in the FR systems could be expected. In our
study, this was not the case, possibly due to other
variables differing between the two housing
systems.
Yolk colour and dry matter content
A very clear effect of housing system was found
for yolk colour. Because yolk colour is largely
determined by xanthophylls (Karunajeewa, 1978)
a darker yolk in the FR system was expected,
because of the possibility of consuming other
feedstuffs, such as grass or herbs.
Effects of housing systems on dry matter
content of the albumen and yolk have not
previously, been investigated, as far as we
are aware. O’Sullivan et al. (1991) found com-
parable values for both dry matter of the
albumen and of the yolk, as in the present
study. They also demonstrated an increase in
yolk dry matter content and a decrease in
albumen dry matter content with advancing
layer age.
Our study demonstrated that egg weight
of outdoor layers was lower at an early age,
but increased more with age than eggs from
caged layers. Eggshell quality decreased with age
in caged layers, whereas in outdoor layers
eggshell quality remained constant or even
increased. Finally, egg shape differed between
the two housing systems. It was concluded
that eggs from outdoor layers demonstrated
more fluctuation in several characteristics
and are thus affected by environmental condi-
tions. It appears to be more difficult to maintain
a constant external and internal egg quality in
an outdoor system than in a cage system.
Whether this has consequences for reproduc-
tion results (incubation settings, hatchability,
post hatch performance) or product quality
(such as use in foodstuffs) is not clear. Factors
that determine the greater fluctuation in,
especially internal, egg quality need to be
investigated.
 752 H. VAN DEN BRAND ET AL.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ger de Vries Reilingh, Frits Rietveld and Koos
van der Linden are gratefully acknowledged for
technical assistance during the experiment.
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