Quality of eggs from commercial laying hens stored in different periods of temperature and storage

SUMMARY The study aimed at assessing the quality of commercial laying hen eggs stored under different temperatures and for different storage periods. 360 eggs were collected soon after laying by DeKalb White laying hens. All eggs were identified, weighed, and randomly distributed in trays, being 150 stored at room temperature (26.5 ± 0.7°C), 150 other placed in trays under refrigeration (7.3 ± 0.5°C), and the remaining 60 eggs were set apart so the assessment could be performed on the first day. The trial design was completely randomized 2×11, scheme factorial, with two storage temperatures and six storage periods (zero, six, 12, 18, 24 and 30 days), with 30 repetitions. The assessed variables were egg weights, absolute and relative weights of albumen, yolk and shell, albumen height, specific gravity, Haugh unit, albumen diameter, albumen index and yolk. The values of absolute and relative weights of egg, albumen and yolk, albumen height, specific gravity, Haugh Unit, diameter and indices of albumen and yolk were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by the storage temperature and period. The absolute weight does not of shell (P>0.05) were influenced by different temperatures, however, the percentages of shell were influenced (P<0.05) linearly by storage time of eggs. It can be concluded that the eggs maintain high quality when stored for up to six days after laying, at room temperature, and maintain excellent quality when stored under refrigeration for up to 30 days.