Effect of Storage Time on Internal and External Characteristics of Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) Eggs

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 < 0.05). Egg weight was significantly and positively correlated with egg width (r=0.36; P < 0.01), egg length (r=0.68; P < 0.001) and shell weight (r=0.27; P < 0.05). Shell thickness and shell weight were significant and positively (r=0.65; P < 0.001) correlated. Also, albumen height was correlated to all the internal traits except albumen index (r=0.07; P > 0.05) and yolk height (r=0.25; P > 0.05). Statistically positive correlation was obtained between Haugh unit and yolk weight (r=0.45; P < 0.001) followed by yolk index (r=0.44; P < 0.01), yolk ratio (r=0.41; P < 0.01) and also between yolk weight and yolk ratio (r=0.95; P < 0.001). On the contrary, yolk index and yolk ratio (r=0.15; P > 0.05) were not positively correlated. The findings of this study suggested that increasing storage time affected the internal egg quality characteristics of guinea fowl eggs.