Sensory Preference and Professional Profile Affinity Definition of Endangered Native Breed Eggs Compared to Commercial Laying Lineages’ Eggs

• Main Authors: Antonio González Ariza, Ander Arando Arbulu, Francisco Javier Navas González, Francisco de Asís Ruíz Morales, José Manuel León Jurado, Cecilio José Barba Capote, María Esperanza Camacho Vallejo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: professional profile; sensory attributes; academic level; product knowledge; production context awareness; cuisine applicability
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/11/920

This study aimed to compare Utrerana native hen eggs&#8217; sensory properties to Leghorn Lohmann LSL-Classic lineage&#8217;s commercial and ecological eggs through free-choice profiling. Second, affine and non-affine profiles were defined using the information provided by professionally-instructed panelists on six sets (sensory attributes, diet habits, production context awareness, product consciousness, cuisine applicability and panelist attributes) using nonlinear canonical correlation analysis. Sixty-four instructed professional panelists rated 96 eggs on 39 variables comprising the above-mentioned sets. Observers reported a significantly higher appreciation (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05) towards yolk color, odor, flavor, texture, overall score, and whole and on plate broken egg visual value when Utrerana eggs were compared to the rest of categories. Professional Profile A (PPA), or egg non-affine profile, consumed less eggs and provided lower scores to sensory attributes than Professional Profile B (PPB), or affine profile. Additionally, PPB accounted for higher knowledge about the Utrerana breed and provided greater importance to a product&#8217;s ecological and autochthonous nature. PPA was generally characterized by women under 20 years old with no higher studies, while PPB comprised 21&#8722;40 years old men with secondary studies. In conclusion, defining professional profiles enables correctly approaching market needs to improve the profitability of Utrerana eggs, meeting professional demands and educating non-affine profiles.