Pasture utilization, behavior, and egg quality of Chilean creole and Lohmann brown hens in a rotational free-range...

Free-range systems integrate pasture access with laying hen production; however, genotype-specific responses under rotational grazing remain insufficiently characterized, particularly for local genetic resources. This study evaluated grazing behavior, pasture utilization, egg production, egg quality traits, and functional egg components of Chilean Creole (ChC) and Lohmann Brown (LB) hens managed in a rotational free-range system in southern Chile. Thirty hens (70 weeks of age) were assigned to two genotypes with three replicate plots per genotype and five hens per plot in a completely randomized design with repeated measures over 91 days. A total of 551 eggs (260 LB; 291 ChC) were evaluated for external and internal quality traits. Behavioral time budgets, sward characteristics, and apparent dry matter intake were recorded, and fatty acids and vitamins A and E were analyzed descriptively using composite yolk samples. Chilean Creole hens showed greater apparent forage intake than Lohmann Brown hens, with a significant genotype × period interaction (P < 0.01), whereas egg production and egg weight did not differ between genotypes (P > 0.05). Chilean Creole eggs exhibited greater yolk pigmentation and a higher shell proportion than Lohmann Brown eggs (P < 0.05), while Lohmann Brown eggs had greater fresh shell weight (P < 0.001). Under controlled rotational management with concentrate supplementation, genotype affected apparent forage intake and selected egg quality traits, whereas yolk fatty acids and vitamins provided exploratory evidence of changes associated with pasture access.