Assessment of quantitative losses of eggs between farm and household consumer.

A random sample survey, using interview schedules, on the quantitative losses of chicken eggs at farm, market, processing and household consumer level in different seasons was carried out in and around Bareilly district (U.P.) and for missing links in other parts of the country. The sample size of selected respondents consisted of 33 layer farmers, 7 egg wholesalers, 20 egg retailers, 2 egg processing plants, one egg cold store and 100 household families. Results revealed that the magnitude of the losses of table eggs at layer farms, wholesalers, retailers, cold store, egg processing unit and household family level was found to be 0.98%, 1.39%, 3.26%, 2.11%, 1.24% and 3.24% respectively which together constituted an overall annual loss of 12.22% eggs. However, the combined annual loss of eggs from poultry farms to household consumers via wholesale and retail channel was found to be 8.87% in the survey area. The losses were comparatively more in summer (1.3I%) than in rainy(0.88%) or winter (0.75%) season at the farms. The bulk of egg damage at farm level was in the form of straight crack followed by star crack, smashed/leakers, soft -shell, holes, shell-less eggs and spoiled (rotten) eggs. Majority of egg damage occurred at poultry farms during collection stage, whereas the same was maximum during packing and transport at market and household consumer level, and during mechanical washing operation at egg processing plants.