A. Gloor, MATHEMATICAL-MODELS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF EGG-PRODUCTION OF MOLTED AND NON-MOLTED LAYER FLOCKS, Archiv fur Geflugelkunde, 61(4), 1997, pp. 186-190
Mathematical models for the description of the hen-day egg production
as well as for the egg grading curves (egg size, second grade eggs) we
re developped. These models can be introduced in computer programmes e
ither to fit egg production standards or to predict total egg producti
on of layer farms with several flocks. Data from moulted an non-moulte
d commercial layer flocks were used for determining the parameters of
the presented models. Then the flock datas were compared with the pred
icted curves. The model for the weekly hen-day egg production allows a
good description of the non-linear increasing and decreasing parts of
the curve. By dividing the egg production curve into two parts with d
ifferent parameters and basing on recent data, also a standard egg pro
duction curve for the first and second cycle of moulted Rocks could be
found. The second model allows the estimation of the weekly percentag
e of three egg sizes and of second grade eggs (broken, hairline-cracke
d and dirty eggs). By using the corresponding parameters, the same fun
ction can be used for each category.