Egg quality characteristics of different scavenging chicken strains in amuru district of horro guduru wallaga zone, oromia, ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the egg quality characteristics of different scavenging chicken strains, specifically local and Sasso breeds, in the Amuru District of Horro Guduru Wallaga Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 150 eggs were collected from 75 households across three agro-ecologies (lowland, midland, and highland). Both internal and external egg quality parameters were assessed, including egg weight, shell thickness, yolk weight, albumen height, and Haugh Unit. Results indicated that breed and agro-ecology significantly influenced egg quality traits. Sasso chickens produced heavier eggs (53.15±0.50g) and longer eggs (52.33±0.42mm), while local chickens showed superior shell thickness (0.516±0.013mm) and shape index (77.53±0.35%). Albumen height averaged 4.76±0.02mm and yolk height ranged from 14.14 to 15.36mm across agro-ecologies. Haugh Unit was higher in local breeds (73.72±0.45) compared to Sasso (70.08±0.52). Significant positive correlations were observed between internal and external traits. The study concludes that genetic and ecological factors greatly affect egg quality, with implications for breed selection and poultry management strategies.