The Influence of Energy Source, Energy-Fiber Concentration and Protein Source of the Diet on Certain Egg Quality Characteristics

THE prevalence of egg quality problems as well as an expanded use of high energy diets for layers has increased interest in the effect of nutrition upon egg quality. It is well known that yolk color depends on the pigment content of the diet and that inadequate mineral and vitamin nutrition results in a high percentage of eggs with defective shells. With these exceptions, however, it has been difficult to find any definite relationship between nutrition and egg quality characteristics. This is especially true for albumen quality. Thompson et al. (1932), Card and Sloan (1934), Lee et al. (1944), and Griminger and Scott (1954) found that the energy content of the diet as well as the kind of cereals used caused no or only small differences in albumen quality. Despite the experimental evidence cited many poultrymen still maintain that high energy diets have a depressing effect upon interior egg quality …