![]() ![]() Clean, normal-shaped white and brown eggs (click on image to enlarge). ![]() The processing oil may create a shiny or opaque appearance. Grade A eggs can also show traces of processing oil (used to preserve freshness). Grade A eggs may show small specks, stains, or cage marks that do not detract from the general clean appearance of the egg. Grade A eggs must be clean (see Figure 1). USDA Standards for grading market eggs (click on image to enlarge). Since contestants are not able to handle the eggs, the eggs are placed sideways on egg cartons and contestants must assume the unseen side is free of any stains, adhering material, cracks, or defects. Eggs graded for exterior quality cannot be handled during the contest. ![]() The factors that affect exterior quality are discussed below. For 4-H poultry judging contests, therefore, eggs will be assigned the grades of A, B, Dirty, or Loss. Grades AA and A have identical standards for exterior quality. Table 1 summarizes the descriptive terminology used in the USDA Egg Grading Manual to help determine an egg’s grade by exterior quality. Eggs are usually sorted for color and sold as either “whites” or “browns.” For the 4-H poultry judging contest exterior egg classes, all chicken eggshell colors can be used. In a contest, excessively speckled brown eggs should not be used. Shell color does not affect the quality of the egg and is not a factor in the U.S. This is especially important when judges have gained experience in evaluating eggs with various degrees of abnormalities. Contestants should not be too harsh in assigning a grade to eggs that may have minor defects. In other words, we want the consumer to have clean, unbroken eggs with practically normal shape and texture. Evaluating eggs for exterior quality reduces the number of eggs with defects that detract from the eggs’ appearance or that would have a low probability of surviving the rigors of handling in normal market channels. ![]()
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