EFFECT OF STOCKING DENSITY ON SELECTED EGG QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN LAYING HENS

High stocking density negatively affects egg quality attributes in laying hens. This study examined varied stocking density effects on egg quality attributes in ISA brown laying hens. 144 forty three week old ISA Brown laying hens were divided into three cage density groups. The three stocking density groups (5 hens per cage, 4 hens per cage and 3 hens per cage) were compared under standard egg quality assessment procedures. Egg weight differed significantly (p<0.05) among treatments, with 5 birds per cage recording the highest value (61.14 g), followed by 3 birds per cage (60.74 g), and the lowest at 4 birds per cage (58.79 g). Shell weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher at 4 birds per cage (8.17 g) and 3 birds per cage (8.10 g) compared to 5 birds per cage (7.33 g). However, shell thickness, egg length and egg width were similarly (p>0.05) influenced. In the same trend, albumen height and albumen weight, yolk height and yolk width were similar (p>0.05) across treatments. Contrastingly, Haugh Unit values were higher (p<0.05) at 3 birds per cage (86.08), compared to 5 birds per cage (83.90) and 4 birds per cage (82.88). In conclusion, lower stocking density (3 birds per cage) improved internal egg quality, particularly Haugh Unit, while higher density reduced shell weight and albumen quality.