How Many Eggs Will Competitors Assess For Quality Inside?

The USDA standards for interior quality of eggs by candling are used in 4-H poultry judging. Eggs are graded simultaneously for exterior and interior quality, but in judging contests, it is necessary to grade eggs for exterior. There will be two classes of 20 white-shelled chicken eggs to be candled for interior quality evaluation. Each egg is to be individually candled and classified as AA, A, B, or Loss.

In a 4-H poultry judging contest, there are three categories involving the grading of table eggs: external quality, interior quality, and broken out eggs. In the national contest, there are two classes of exterior quality, two classes of interior quality, and one class of broken out eggs. Contestants should evaluate each egg on its own merit and not compare it with other eggs in the class.

Student judges should systematically evaluate and assign a tentative grade (AA, A, B or Loss) for each area (air cell, yolk, and white) using USDA criteria. In commercial egg-processing plants, eggs are graded simultaneously for exterior and interior quality. For 4-H poultry judging contests, eggs will be assigned the grades of A, B, Dirty, or Loss. Factors that affect exterior quality are discussed in the “Poultry Science Manual” and the USDA’s guidelines for evaluating interior quality of eggs.