Effect of laying stage on egg characteristics and yolk fatty acid profile from different-aged geese

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine egg characteristics, and yolk fatty acid profile in the early and full lay by Lithuanian Vishtinės geese of different ages in the first and third laying years. The mean values of the weight of eggs in the early stage of laying were lower (P<0.001) from first-year geese in comparison with the older geese of the third year. In early lay, eggs from young geese had lower yolk and higher albumen ratios, respectively, than those from older geese (P<0.01); however, in full lay there were no differences between the geese from different age groups. The age of geese and the laying stage did not appear to affect the proportions of total saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. The laying stage showed effects on the proportions of separate n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The yolk from all the geese in full lay had more than twice higher contents of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (P<0.001), including increase of EPA (C20:5n-3), DHA (C22:6n-3) and DPA (C22:5n-3). Th...