Tasetama

Tasetama is a Japanese term that roughly translates to "stray egg." It refers to an egg that has been fertilized but is not developing into a chick, often due to a lack of fertilization or other developmental issues. These eggs are typically found during the process of collecting eggs from poultry, such as chickens, ducks, or quails.

The presence of tasetama in an egg collection can indicate various factors. It might suggest issues with the reproductive health of the parent birds, environmental stressors, or simply the natural variation in fertility rates. While tasetama are not viable for hatching, they are still edible and are often consumed by farmers or sold in local markets. They are generally safe to eat, with no significant difference in nutritional value compared to fertilized eggs that are developing.

Farmers often have methods to identify tasetama during the egg collection or sorting process. Candling, a technique that involves shining a light through the egg, can help distinguish between a developing embryo and a tasetama. A fertilized egg will show signs of blood vessels and embryo development, while a tasetama will appear as a cloudy mass or simply remain undifferentiated. The term is not widely used outside of agricultural contexts and is primarily an internal descriptor within the poultry industry.