Materials science meets genetics to reduce egg losses

摘要

According to recent surveys, up to 10% of eggs are lost through cracking during routine egg handling procedures. The latest research in the field of materials science offers the prospect that geneticists will be able to select in future for birds whose eggs are less likely to crack. Egg producers can suffer economic losses of around 10% due to eggs becoming cracked during routine handling. Cracking is not only a waste and a financial loss. It also increases the risk of eggs becoming infected with disease-causing organisms - a risk that is likely to increase with the move from battery cages to more extensive housing systems.