The objective of this research was to evaluate production indexes for laying hens of the Lohamann lineage, under the summer and winter conditions of 2005, in São José da Mata district of Campina Grande, which is located in the Paraíban semi-arid region. 34.500 hens were used with ages of 32, 50, 60 and 71 weeks, and which were reared in four poultry houses. The production indexes (total production of eggs, egg weight, albumen weight, egg yolk weight, and rinds weight), geometric parameters (area and volume) and Haugh unit of egg were calculated as a function of hen age. The production indexes in all rearing systems followed the technical recommendations. The age of the hens influenced the indexes of total production, egg weight and also egg yolk weight. The highest production of eggs was obtained with the youngest birds. On the other hand, egg weight and the egg yolk weight were obtained with the oldest birds. The geometric parameters (volume and area) were not influenced by the age of the hens. According to Haugh unit index, the best evaluated hen eggs were the ones that were between 32 and 50 weeks.
production index; egg geometric parameters; Haugh unit
