PRODUCTIVITY OF LAYERS AND EGG QUALITY IN FREE RANGE AND CAGE SYSTEM OF HOUSING

The research was conducted with two groups of Lohmann Brown hybrid layers. Production of eggs lasted for 52 weeks. A control group of layers was kept in the conventional housing system, that is, in cages, while experimental group was kept in the free range system. Layers from the free range system, compared to those kept in cages, laid fewer eggs, (266:295), they consumed more feed on daily basis (129 g : 115 g), more feed per kilogram of egg weight (2.83 kg : 2.35 kg), they had higher mortality rate (6.80 % : 5.50 %) and lower end of lay body weight (1.95 kg : 2.10 kg). Eggs from free range layers, compared to those from the cages system, had significantly (P<0.01) higher weight (62.40 g : 60.50 g), thicker shell (0.36 mm : 0.34 mm) and more intensive yolk color (12.00 : 10.00 Roche). Considering other analyzed indicators of egg quality (egg yolk index, egg white index, pH of yolk, pH of white, Haugh units and total cholesterol), no significant differences (P>0.05) were determined between the free range and the cages system of housing hens. Considering somewhat lower productivity and higher mortality rate of hens, higher feed consumption per kilogram of egg mass, but also better quality of eggs, profitability of egg production in the free range system will depend, to the maximum extent, on market evaluation of the production