It's no secret that the Commercial White Leghorn or Production Leghorn outshines all other white egg layers, other than another variety of leghorn that lays an equal number of eggs annually. The leghorn has supplied eggs to the mass grocery market for eons and continues to be the leading egg in the market place. The white leghorn is widely used in laboratories for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to finding treatments for illness and disease in the poultry world.
Leghorns are not the only white egg laying breed available. The Polish, Appenzeller Spitzhauben, Hamburg, Lakenvelder, Egyptian Fayoumis, Minorcas Breda Fowl, Icelandic, Altsterier; along with several varieties of leghorn lay white eggs, though in far fewer numbers annually.
The make up of eggs is the very same, regardless of breed or color of the egg. The shell color varies between breeds from various shades of white to various shades of brown from light to dark. The shell color is a pigment that is added in the last stages of the egg laying process. That pigment scratches easily with a nail and in fact you'll find scratches on those eggs from the chickens as the move in and out of the nests. Those egg shells are white on the inside. As for the taste or nutrition from white eggs to brown eggs, there is no difference according to scientific studies, though many believe that brown eggs taste better. Even the color of yolk makes no difference in the nutritional value. The color of the yolk is purely determined by the diet and by the breed that lays that egg. White eggs naturally have a lighter egg yolk than brown eggs, no matter if they are fed the same exact diet, you cannot compare that yolk and believe one is healthier than the other, that is simply a fallacy and absolutely not founded by any scientific study, no matter what kind of advertising ploys are used.
No matter whether you prefer brown, white or any other color egg, know that the egg is one of the most perfect foods you can provide for your family. They are low calorie, with good fats, Omega-3, loaded with Protein, Calcium and nearly every single vitamin and mineral essential to human consumption. And know that whether you purchase eggs from pasture raised hens, free-range hens, or eggs with added Omega-3 or herbal supplements, that the eggs have food value that equals that of beef or other meat. The confusion added to egg cartons these days are purely advertising ploys that capitalize on a great deal of erroneous information concerning the food value of eggs. If you are purchasing eggs, purchase the eggs that you feel is the best value for your budget and your family nutritional needs. If you are raising your own birds or planning to raise chickens for the eggs, know that a proper balanced feed, ample clean water, clean environment, fresh air and exercise are all that is needed for a healthy flock and quality eggs.
We encourage you to do your own research concerning any information you find online. We find that random websites, forums and blogs are full of erroneous information that lead people to believe many fallacies and information that is unfounded and unproven by scientific studies. Consult your State Agriculture Universities and local County Extension offices for up-to-date accurate studies.
Note: The breeds listed in Italics are breeds of white egg layers that we raise. For further information about those breeds, refer to our breed profiles. http://justfowlingaround.weebly.com/breed-profiles
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