Calcium particle size and feeding time influence egg shell quality in laying hens
Abstract
An experiment with Leghorn laying hens was undertaken to determine the effect of oyster shell particle size and feeding time on different production variables, calcium retention, plasma calcium content and egg internal and external quality. Two hundred Leghorn layers (40 weeks old old) were allocated in five dietary treatments with four replicates during ten weeks. Two particle size combinations (wherein 50% of calcium substituted by medium or coarse particles (1-2 mmand 2-4 mmrespectively) and two feeding time (8-pm or 9-am) were compared against a control diet (100% ground, <1 mmwhich fed with meal). Egg number, egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05). Hens fed diets containing coarse Ca had significantly greater feed intake and calcium content of excreta (p > 0.05), whereas medium particle size reduced feed intake compared to control. Coarse particle size and feeding time at 9-pm significantly increased the calcium content of egg shell, egg shell thickness, egg surface area (ESA) and shell weight per unit surface area (SWUSA) (p < 0.05). Plasma calcium concentration, gizzard digesta calcium content and egg specific gravity were not affected by treatments (p > 0.05). Providing of calcium at 9-pm resulted an increase of egg shell (%), shell weight and thickness (p < 0.05). The results have shown that substitution of fine oyster shell with 50% coarse particles (2-4 mm) and feeding time at 9-pm have better effects on egg shell quality.
Downloads
References
Araujo, J. A., Silva, J. H. V., Costa, F. G. P., Sousa, J. M. B., Givisiez, P. E. N., & Sakomura, N. K. (2011). Effect of the levels of calcium and particle size of limestone on laying hens. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 40(5), 997-1005. doi: /10.1590/S1516-35982011000500009.
Backhouse, D., & Gous, R. M. (2005). The effect of feeding time on shell quality and oviposition time in broiler breeders. British Poultry Science, 46(2), 255-259.
Bölükbasi, S. C., Çelebi, S., & Utlu, N. (2005). The effects of calcium and vitamin D in diet on plasma calcium and phosphorus, egg shell calcium, and phosphorus levels of laying hens in late laying production period. International Journal of Poultry Science, 4(8), 600-603.
Bootwalla, S. M., Wilson, H. R., & Harms, R. H. (1983). Performance of broiler breeders on different feeding systems. Poultry Science, 62(12), 2321-2325. doi: 10.3382/ps.0622321.
De Witt, F. H., Kuleile, N. P., Van der Merwe, H. J., & Fair, M. D. (2008). Influence of limestone particle size on egg production and eggshell quality of layers. World Poultry Science Journal, 64, 411.
Ekmay, R. D., & Coon, C. N. (2011). An examination of the P requirements of broiler breeders for performance, progeny quality and P balance 2. Ca particle size. International Journal of Poultry Science, 10(10), 760-765.
Guinotte, F., & Nys, Y. (1991). Effects of particle size and origin of calcium sources on eggshell quality and bone mineralization in egg laying hens. Poultry Science, 70(3), 583-592. doi: 10.3382/ps.0700583.
Guo, X. Y., & Kim, I. H. (2012). Impacts of limestone multi-particle size on production performance, egg shell quality, and egg quality in laying hens. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 25(6), 839-844. doi: 10.5713/ajas.2011.11468.
Ito, D. T., Faria, D. E., Kuwano, E. A., Junqueira, O. M., & Araujo, L. F. (2006). Effects of dietary calcium fractionation and limestone particle size on the performance and egg quality of commercial laying hens. Acta Scientiarum-Animal Sciences, 28(2), 187-195.
Jardim Filho, R. M., Stringhini, J. H., Café, M. B., Leandro, N. S. M., Cunha, W. C. P., & Nascimento, J. (2005). The influence of limestone source and particles sizes on performance and eggshell quality of commercial laying hens. Acta Scientiarum-Animal Sciences, 27(1), 35-41.
Keshavarz, K. (1998). Investigation on the possibility of reducing protein, phosphorus, and calcium requirements of laying hens by manipulation of time of access to these nutrients. Poultry Science, 77(9), 1320-1332.
Koreleski, J., & Šwiątkiewicz, S. (2004). Calcium from limestone meal and grit in laying hen diets-effect on performance, eggshell and bone. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 13(4), 635-645.
Kul, S., & Seker, I. (2004). Phenotypic correlations between some external and internal egg quality traits in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). International Journal of Poultry Science, 3(6), 400-405.
Lichovnikova, M. (2007). The effect of dietary calcium source, concentration and particle size on calcium retention, eggshell quality and overall calcium requirement in laying hens. British Poultry Science, 48(1), 71-75.
McNaughton, J. L., & Deaton, J. W. (1980). Effect of calcium source and particle size on calcium utilization. Poultry Science, 59(7), 1568.
Murata, L. S., Santana, A. P., Jardim Filho, R. M., & Ariki, J. (2009). Effects of calcium levels and limestone on laying hen performance and egg shell quality. Biotemas, 22(1), 103-110.
Nam, K.-T., Lee, H.-A., Joo, Y.-J., Kim, K.-H., & Kang, C.-W. (1998). Influence of builder's sand on the TME of linseed for poultry. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 72(1-2), 199-201. doi: 10.1016/S0377-8401(97)00176-4.
Narushin, V. G. (2001). What egg parameters predict best its shell strength?. In Proceedings of the IX European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Kusadasi, Turkey (p. 349–355).
Narushin, V. G., & Romanov, M. N. (2002). Egg physical characteristics and hatchability. World's Poultry Science Journal, 58(3), 297-303.
Pavlovski, Z., Vitorović, D., Lukić, M., & Spasojević, I. (2003). Improving eggshell quality by replacement of pulverised limestone by granular limestone in the hen diet. Acta veterinaria, 53(1), 35-40.
Pelicia, K., Mourao, J. L. M., Garcia, E. A., Pinheiro, V. M. C., Berto, D. A., Molino, A. B., ... Silva, A. P. (2011). Effects of dietary calcium levels and limestone particicle size on the performance, tibia and blood of laying hens. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 13(1), 29-34. doi: 10.1590/S1516-635X2011000100005.
Rao, K. S., & Roland, S.R. (1989). Influence of dietary calcium level and particle size of calcium source on in vivo calcium solubilization by commercial Leghorns. Poultry Science, 68(11), 1499-1505.
Richards, M. P. (2003). Genetic regulation of feed intake and energy balance in poultry. Poultry Science, 82(6), 907-916. doi: 10.1093/ps/82.6.907.
Roland, S. R. (1988). Research note: egg shell problems: estimates of incidence and economic impact. Poultry Science, 67(12), 1801-1803. doi: 10.3382/ps.0671801.
Sá, L. M., Gomes, P. C., Albino, L. F. T., Rostagno, H. S., & D'Agostini, P. (2004). Calcium requirement and bioavailability of some feedstuffs for broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days old. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 33(1), 157-168.
Statistical Analysis System [SAS]. (2004). SAS/STAT User guide, Version 9.1.2. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
Saunders-Blades, J. L., MacIsaac, J. L., Korver, D. R., & Anderson, D. M. (2009). The effect of calcium source and particle size on the production performance and bone quality of laying hens. Poultry Science, 88(2), 338-353. doi: 10.3382/ps.2008-00278.
Skřivan, M., Marounek, M., Bubancova, I., & Podsedníček, M. (2010). Influence of limestone particle size on performance and egg quality in laying hens aged 24–36 weeks and 56–68 weeks. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 158(1-2), 110-114. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2010.03.018.
Sooncharenying, S., & Edwards, H. M. (1989). Modelling the relationships of egg weight, specific gravity, shell calcium and shell thickness. British Poultry Science, 30(3), 623-631.
William, N. S., Horacio, S. R., Paulo, R. S., Luis, F. U., & Marcelo, A. S. (2006). Nutritional requirement of calcium in White laying hens from 46 to 62 Wk of age. International Journal of Poultry Science, 5(2), 181-184.
Wilson, H. R., & Keeling, L. J. (1991). Effect of time of feeding on oviposition time and production parameters in broiler breeders. Poultry Science, 70(2), 254-259. doi: 10.3382/ps.0700254.
Yo, T., Siegel, P. B., Guerin, H., & Picard, M. (1997). Self-selection of dietary protein and energy by broilers grown under a tropical climate: effect of feed particle size on the feed choice. Poultry Science, 76(11), 1467-1473.
Zhang, B., & Coon, C. N. (1997). Improved in vitro methods for determining limestone and oyster shell solubility. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 6(1), 94-99.
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY AND COPYRIGHTS
- I Declare that current article is original and has not been submitted for publication, in part or in whole, to any other national or international journal.
The copyrights belong exclusively to the authors. Published content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) guidelines, which allows sharing (copy and distribution of the material in any medium or format) and adaptation (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, even commercially, under the terms of attribution.
Read this link for further information on how to use CC BY 4.0 properly.
