The effect of different rearing systems on yield characteristics, quality criteria and egg shell microbial load of ATAK-S chickens

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different rearing systems on yield characteristics, egg inner and outer quality criteria and eggshell microbial load of ATAK-S commercial hybrids. In the experiment, three different rearing systems were applied: cage, floor (deep bedding) and free-range. 60 week-old ATAK-S hybrids were used as animal material and experiment continued for 10 weeks. In the research egg yield, egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion rate, egg mass, egg inner and outer quality criteria and eggshell microbial load were investigated. Average egg yield was obtained highest in the cage system with %51.20, average egg weight was obtained the highest in the floor with 63.04 g. The highest average daily feed consumption with 115.9 g and the highest average feed conversion rate with 3.74 were obtained from cage system. The differences between all the discussed data were statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences between the groups belonged to egg shape index, eggshell thickness, fracture resistance, albumen index, egg yolk index, Haugh unit and L value were not significantly important (P>0.05). On the other hand, the differences were observed between the groups for albumen pH, A, B and E values (P<0.05). The least TMAB andStaphylococcus ssp. septicity were determined in the free-range system with 5.55 and 4.49 kobcfu/mL, respectively, the least E.Coli, Enterococcusspp and Coliformsepticity were determined in the cage system with 3.27, 3.45 and 3.61 kob cfu/mL, respectively. As a result, rearing systems were found important for yield performance and quality criteria. It is indicated that the better egg yield and egg mass values obtained from cage rearing system; egg weight, daily and average feed consumption values obtained from floor rearing system.