Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): In old laying hens, egg number increases with increase in albumen to yolk ratio.
Statement (II): In old laying hens, egg number decreases with decrease in albumen to yolk ratio.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• D. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.

Hint:

With increasing flock age, yolk weight increases faster than albumen weight.
This shifts the egg composition, resulting in a lower albumen-to-yolk ratio, which correlates with the natural decline in egg production.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
As laying hens age, their physiological capacity, hormone levels, and egg composition undergo predictable changes.
These changes affect both the overall egg production rate (egg number) and the internal components of the eggs (albumen and yolk weights).
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
In younger hens, egg production rates are high, and the eggs have a higher proportion of albumen relative to yolk, resulting in a high albumen-to-yolk ratio.
As hens age, egg size increases, but the rate of lay (egg number) declines.
In older laying flocks, the increase in egg size is primarily due to a disproportionately larger increase in yolk weight compared to albumen weight.
Consequently, the albumen-to-yolk ratio decreases as the birds age.
- Statement (I): Within an older flock, individual hens that maintain higher egg numbers (better persistency of lay) tend to produce eggs with a higher albumen-to-yolk ratio compared to their lower-producing peers.
This is because a higher rate of ovulation reduces the time the egg spends accumulating yolk in the ovary.
Therefore, egg number increases with an increase in the albumen-to-yolk ratio.
This makes Statement (I) correct.
- Statement (II): Conversely, as hens get older and their egg numbers decrease, the interval between ovulations increases, allowing more yolk to accumulate.
This results in a lower albumen-to-yolk ratio.
Therefore, a decrease in egg number is associated with a decrease in the albumen-to-yolk ratio.
This makes Statement (II) correct.

Step 2: Final Answer:
Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.