Egg proteome : the protein and carotenoids characteristics deriving from laying hens reared in different housing systems and under different environmental conditions

Abstract

The rearing and breeding of poultry both for meat and egg production has long been an important part of the Maltese agricultural activity. In fact, it can safely be said that historical evidence affirm the highly importance of poultry in the hands of Maltese farmers. This can nowadays be proofed by the presence of a local rustic dual purpose poultry breed known as the ‘Black Maltese’. Nowadays local egg production has been entirely replaced by intensively reared hybrid strains of poultry, particularly those deriving from the White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red, both of which are more productive.