EGG QUALITY COMPARISON OF TWO VIETNAMESE CHICKEN BREEDS (RI AND MIA)

In the context of the valorization of poultry biodiversity, this work represents a step
toward a better knowledge of the production abilities of local chicken breeds in Vietnam.
Local chicken breeds are indeed particularly well suited for low-input rearing systems, as
widely practiced in rural households of Vietnam. The socio-economic importance of these
breeds might be underpinned by a market valorization through the mounting of differentiated
quality value chains. Such a strategy needs the production potential of these local breeds to be
assessed using parameters of egg quality and quantity. This study presents data about egg
quality traits in two chicken breeds, the Ri and the Mia. The former is the most widespread
breed in Vietnam, while the latter is known to be in danger of extinction. Nineteen
parameters of quality of ninety eggs of Ri chickens and sixty eggs of Mia chickens were
measured, each for both 40 and 60-weeks old hens to take hens ages into account.Mean egg
weight of Mia eggs (44.70g) was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that of Ri eggs (41.68g).
The yolk to albumen ratio was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the two breeds at
the age of 40 weeks (Ri: 0.55; Mia: 0.58). For 60-weeks old hens, the ratio became
significantly (p<0.05) higher in Mia eggs compared to Ri eggs (0.64 vs. 0.57). No significant
difference (p>0.05) was recorded between the two breeds for parameters used for egg
freshness assessment (Haugh’s units and pH of albumen and yolk) or eggshell resistance
(maximal breakage force). Despite the small sample available for the study (due to the low
availability of Mia hens and eggs), significant differences in egg quality traits were thus
observed between these two breeds.