Egg Quality Parameters (UNIT 3)

The white of the egg is ____% of total egg white

60

The yolk is about ____% of total egg weight

30

Which is composed of more solids, the egg white or the yolk? Why?

The egg yolk is about 50% solid while the white is about 11% solid. This is because the egg yolk is providing nutrients to the embryo as it grows so it is more solid dense.

The shell is about ___% of total egg weight

10

What is the egg shell mostly composed of?

Calcium carbonate

(T or F) older eggs will have a runnier albumen which correlates to worse protein quality.

True

What is the main cause for the decrease in internal egg quality once it is laid? (2 reasons)

Water loss and shifts in CO2

What are some of the ways you can test egg quality?

Candling, Haugh unit, specific gravity, shell strength, albumen height, etc.

How do you determine Haugh Unit? Is a higher or lower haugh unit better?

Haugh unit is determined using the albumen height and egg weight. A higher number represents a better quality egg.

Grade the following eggs: (AA, A, or B)

• Haugh Unit lower than 60

• Haugh unit 60-72

• haugh unit 72+

B,A,AA

Where is most of the protein in an egg?

The egg white

Where are most calories in an egg?

Egg yolk

What are some ways you can get a darker egg yolk?

Supplement things like marigolds, paprika, etc.

This happens when something happens to the hen while the egg is accumulating its shell and results in a misshapen egg 

Body checks

A pimpled egg is due to excess _____

Calcium

Why might there be blood spots on an egg yolk?

Typically due to blood vessel rupture during ovulation

(T or F) Eggs with blood spots or meat spots are safe to eat.

True

(T or F) Eggs with blood spots or meat spots are sold commercially.

False

(T or F) Darker egg yolks have better nutritional value

False

Briefly describe how we dyed the yolk in lab

As the yolk accumulates layers over 5-7 days, it forms rings. You can change the color by adding a fat-soluble dye. Since the yolk is mainly lipids, it will incorporate that dye into the yolk.