Effect of storage time on internal and external characteristics of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) eggs

Abstract

The effect of 0, 4, 7, 10 and 14 days storage times on quality characteristics of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) eggs was studied. Data were subjected to ANOVA using the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). Shell thickness was the only external quality characteristic that was significantly (P< 0.05) affected by storage time. There was no significant (P> 0.05) effect of storage time on egg weight, egg dimensions (width and length), egg shape index, shell weight and shell percentage, as external quality characteristics of guinea fowl eggs. However, egg weight tended to decline with lengthened storage time. The egg weight values at 0, 4, 7, 10 and 14 days were 43.16, 42.96, 41.74, 41.29 and 41.01 g, respectively. All internal egg characteristics were highly significantly (P< 0.001) affected by storage time, whereas effects of storage time on yolk height was less significant (P< 0 …