ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EGGSHELL COLOR AND FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY IN LAYING HENS

Abstract

Eggshell color is an apparent characteristic of laying chickens and is frequently linked to breed, consumer preference, and egg quality. Nonetheless, its potential association with feed conversion efficiency (FCE), a crucial economic and environmental performance indicator for chicken production, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the correlation between eggshell color and feed conversion efficiency in laying hens under controlled conditions conducted at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 180 laying hens were categorized into three groups according to eggshell color: white, brown, and blue green. All chickens were maintained under the same conditions and were provided with the same feed. Feed consumption and egg mass were quantified over a four-week period. The FCE was determined as the ratio of feed consumption to egg mass. Eggshell pigmentation was assessed using a visual scale and instrumental colorimetry (L*a*b*). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's HSD test, and Pearson’s correlation. Brown-shell chickens exhibited a marginally greater egg mass and slightly improved feed conversion efficiency than the white and blue-green chickens; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). No substantial correlations were observed between instrumental shell color values and FCE (P > 0.05), indicating the absence of predictive association. Eggshell color does not substantially affect or forecast feed conversion efficiency in laying hens. These results indicate that pigmentation should not be used as a selection criterion to enhance feed efficiency in layer production systems.