The transport of consumption eggs is an essential stage in egg poultry production in which strategies must be implemented to improve efficiency.

The transport of consumption eggs is a fundamental step in poultry farming, characterized by innovation and advanced technology. It is a process that is part of the production chain from the layer farm to the grading centers commercial establishments, that pack and distribute the eggs for consumption. For this reason, several factors must be considered during egg transportation.

Eggs are currently one of the most widely consumed foods on the planet because of their low cost, wide availability, high nutritional value, and ease of preparation. For this reason, layer farms must have an efficient and safe transport chain so that the eggs produced reach the consumers’ tables in an optimal way.

Transporting consumption eggs: Key strategies

The transport of eggs for consumption has some key strategies to be completed successfully. These requirements are related to the elements used to pack the eggs and distribute them, and the handling of the product.

1. Pallet system: the material of the pallet system on which the eggs are transported must prevent breakage of the shell and damage to the product. In addition, the quality of the material must be optimal to avoid contamination during this process.
2. Handling: Workers who handle eggs from the farm to the transport trucks and then during packaging must have adequate training in good hygienic practices. In addition, they must be trained to carefully handling eggs for consumption. On the other hand, the farm facilities must facilitate the loading process through platforms and have packing stations, warehouses, and stations. In this way, handling is much more organized. Other elements that can help the packing process are hand trucks and automatic elevators or robotics.
3. Egg protection: the materials used in the loading process and the conditions must be controlled to avoid sudden temperature changes in the eggs. Otherwise, this could affect the quality of the product or predispose to secondary contamination by bacteria. This temperature and humidity range depends on the geographical location of the farm and the climatic conditions during the loading and transport process.

Egg transport considerations

In addition to the fundamental requirements, there are other strategies for egg transport. On the one hand, excessive shaking during this process should be avoided, especially when road conditions are not suitable. Therefore, pallets systems must be properly and firmly secured to reduce the movement of the table eggs.

On the other hand, it is important to install covers on the transport truck to protect the table eggs from sunlight, rain, or extreme cold. This avoids sudden temperature changes that affect the quality of the product. In addition, unforeseen events can delay egg deliveries, which could deteriorate egg quality and lead to economic losses due to inadequate storage temperatures. In hot climates and over long distances, eggs need to be transported with a refrigeration system. For this reason, it is recommended that transport vehicles be properly maintained and have a cooling system operating in optimal conditions.

Among the strategies of a correct cooling system during egg transport, the following are highlighted:

• Efficient thermal insulation
• Optimal operation over long periods
• Adequate cooling mechanism with periodic checks for reliability.
• Correct air circulation inside the transport vehicle, which should be uniform and constant, to avoid dead zones or temperature changes inside the containers.

Transportation system: What should it include?

The transportation system for moving eggs for consumption should be selected according to some guidelines. In cases that require long-distance transport, it is recommended that there are clear protocols for receiving, handling, and storage for transport. In addition, there are some criteria and tips that can be reviewed to have better transportation service for table eggs, following economic parameters and rigorous technical evaluations.

• Operational personnel should be trained in all operations related to egg transport: assembly, product loading, and distribution.
• Try to maintain a constant commercial volume of the product throughout the year to reduce economic losses associated with transportation.
• Consider the possibility of transporting other products that are compatible with the transport conditions, such as dairy products. In this way, economic savings are generated.
• Evaluate the possibility of loading products on the return trip, after the eggs have arrived at their destination.
• Choose the best pallet system for transporting eggs for consumption since there is a wide variety of products available for storage.
• Plastic pallet systems have advantages over other egg transport materials. For example, they can be reused many times and can be easily washed, which contributes to the economy and hygiene of the poultry farm.

GI-OVO’s EggsCargoSystem® (ECS)

The transport of table eggs requires efficient solutions that bring benefits to the egg production chain. Therefore, the EggsCargoSystem® is a handling system that has been widely used around the world for many years. As a result, this egg transportation system offers several benefits:

• Lower transport management costs for eggs by maximizing their carrying capacity.
• Significant decrease in cracked eggs
• Ease and efficiency of disinfection methods to maintain high standards of hygiene.
• Improved egg handling traceability
• Increased throughput by facilitating the handling of large volumes of eggs due to flexible, fast, and stable logistics.

The EggsCargoSystem® (ECS) of GI-OVO, the subsidiary dedicated to their commercialization, can work with 3 different sizes of hen eggs according to their weight:

• Tray Standard: up to 64 g
• Tray Jumbo 1.0: up to 74 g
• Tray Jumbo 2.0: up to 90 g

In addition, these trays have a specific model for turkey and duck eggs (20 eggs) and another one for quail eggs (72 eggs).

These improvements provided by the EggsCargoSystem® (ECS) are based on a combination of the high quality of its materials and the current needs of the egg market. The product responds to needs from the farm to the grading centers and the egg product processing industry. For this reason, the EggsCargoSystem® is the most reliable and complete egg transport system available on the market.