The influence of the cuticle on egg‐shell strength

Abstract
1. Sixty sound eggs, assumed to have shell cuticle, were paired according to egg‐shell deformation value. 2. Egg weight and shell quality characteristics were recorded for the eggs and the cuticle was then removed from one egg of each pair. 3. Egg weight and shell quality were re‐assessed for the eggs from which the cuticle had been removed. 4. The cuticle made a significant (P<0.01) contribution to shell thickness and removal of it appeared to reduce shell strength when measured directly, but the method of measurement was too variable to establish this with statistical significance.