Hy-Line Brown Hens: The Optimal Choice for Cage-Free Production

Recent research highlights the superiority of Hy-Line Brown hens in cage-free environments, showcasing their enhanced egg production and quality metrics.

Study Overview

The study, published in the journal Poultry Science, was conducted by the Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University. The aim was to assess various genetic strains in cage-free settings as the U.S. egg industry transitions away from conventional caged operations.

As of last year, cage-free eggs accounted for approximately 40% of egg sales, driven by rising consumer concerns over animal welfare.

Challenges of Transitioning

Traditional strains selected for caged production may face adaptation difficulties in cage-free systems, as not all egg production and quality parameters are directly transferable across different environments.

Typically, white birds are associated with caged production, while brown strains thrive in cage-free, pasture-raised, or free-range systems.

Methodology

In the study, each hen strain was housed in separate pens measuring 10×4 feet (approximately 3×1.2 meters) and equipped with amenities including a roost, a 3-rung ladder perch, and four nesting boxes.

The evaluation focused on the impact of genetic strain on egg production and quality over a complete laying cycle of 72 weeks. The strains tested included Hy-Line W-36 White, H+N White, Hy-Line Brown, and Bovan Brown.

Researchers collected 18 eggs at random from each strain, sorting them into three groups for quality analysis, examining factors like shell strength, yolk color, and adherence to USDA grading standards.

Findings and Performance Metrics

The results indicated that H+N White hens were the least productive, showing the lowest hen-day egg production (p<0.0001) and a significant number of check eggs (p=0.0006).

Lead author Bhavisha Gulabrai noted, “They likely struggled to adjust to the cage-free environment due to their naturally flighty nature.”

Interestingly, while Bovan Browns produced fewer eggs, they consumed the most feed, indicating a lower overall feed conversion ratio (p<0.0001).

Contrastingly, both white strains underperformed in egg quality, with Hy-Line W-36 White hens yielding lower albumen height and yolk color metrics (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The findings affirm that Hy-Line Brown hens are better suited for cage-free production, showing overall superior egg production and quality compared to the other three examined strains.

Gulabrai encapsulated the study’s implications succinctly: “Our findings demonstrate that genetic strain plays a critical role in the performance of cage-free laying hens. The Hy-Line Brown strain significantly outperformed the others in key production and quality measures.”