Abstract: The changes of egg albumen and yolk quality during storage are closely related to respiration. In order to further clarify the relationship between egg internal quality and respiration intensity, this study tested eggs from the same chicken breed. The respiratory intensity of eggs was measured by a commercial instrument and it was correlated with Haugh unit, egg albumen height, pH, viscosity, yolk index, yolk proportion and yolk color by SPSS 19.0 software package. The results indicated that respiratory intensity was significantly correlated positively with Haugh unit, egg albumen height, viscosity and respiration intensity (P < 0.01) but negatively with pH (P < 0.01). In addition, there was a significantly positive correlation between respiratory intensity and yolk index and yolk color (P < 0.01), although the correlation of yolk proportion and respiration intensity was not statistically significant. Furthermore, pH was significantly negatively correlated with viscosity, yolk index and yolk color (P < 0.01). Viscosity was positively correlated with both yolk index and yolk color (P < 0.01). The correlation between yolk ratio and other parameters was not significant. It can be concluded that some egg internal quality parameters such as Haugh unit, egg albumen height, pH, viscosity, yolk index and yolk color can considerably affect respiration intensity.

Key words: egg, internal quality, carbon dioxide, respiratory intensity