Shell Quality in Poultry as Seen From the Breeder’s Viewpoint

A comparative selection experiment has shown that it is very well possible to improve shell quality by means of breeding. These stronger shells are acquired however at the cost of a part of productivity. The gain in eggs delivered will have to be weighed against the loss in productivity (egg mass in grams per hen). It is pointed out that in the case of market eggs, the shell should be strong enough to withstand the stress of normal transport. One overshoots ones purpose, however, by trying to select for shells that are stronger than necessary for this purpose.