Permeability of the Egg Shell as Influenced by Washing, Ambient Temperature Changes, and Environmental Temperature and Humidity

USING a subjective dye penetration method, Almquist and Hoist (1931) found that ambient temperature affected permeability of the egg shell and Kraft et al. (1958) reported that the effects of temperature produced similar results employing the same technique. Romanoff (1943) used small segments of shells to determine egg shell permeability and showed that the rate of gas transmission through the shell portions was influenced by environmental temperature and humidity. Hypotheses by other workers are found in additional studies but lack specific and direct information regarding the influence of environmental conditions on permeability of the whole egg shell. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the influences of some common handling practices employed during the marketing operation on egg shell permeability by utilizing the objective colorimetric method of Fromm (1959). EXPERIMENTAL General. All eggs used in these studies were laid by a flock of S. C. White Leghorns in their …