Effects of the Sequence of Measuring Nondestructive Deformation and Specific Gravity on the Quasi-Static Compression and Impact Strength of Eggs from White Leghorn Hens

Two experiments were done to determine if the types of shell measurement and the order in which they were obtained could influence the egg shell strength results. All possible sequences involving specific gravity (SG) and/or nondestructive deformation (or neither) followed by a destructive test, impact or quasi-static compression fracture, were considered. Each of the 10 sequences was applied to 45 eggs in each of two experiments. Both impact and compression fracture showed significant differences (P<.01) among sequences, mainly because sequences involving deformation generally produced lower fracture measurements. There was no evidence that SG influenced subsequent measurements nor that it was affected by previous deformation measurements. The results were generally consistent across the two experiments.