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South African Journal of Animal Science

On-line version ISSN 2221-4062
Print version ISSN 0375-1589

S. Afr. j. anim. sci. vol.39 n.5 Pretoria Jan. 2009

 

Effect of limestone particle size on egg production and eggshell quality of hens during late production

 

F.H. de Witt#; N.P. Kuleile; H.J. van der Merwe; M.D. Fair

Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

 

 


ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the influence of different particle size limestone in layer diets on egg production and eggshell quality during the later stages of egg production (>54 weeks of age). Calcitic limestone (360 g Ca/kg), consisting of small (<1.0 mm), medium (1.0 - 2.0 mm) and large (2.0 - 3.8 mm) particles were obtained from a specific South African source that is extensively used in poultry diets Isoenergetic (14.32 MJ AME/kg DM) and isonitrogenous (172.01 g CP/kg DM) diets with a dietary Ca content of 39.95 g Ca/kg DM were used. Sixty nine, individual caged Lohmann-Silver pullets, 17 weeks of age, were randomly allocated to the three treatments (n = 23) for the determination of various egg production and eggshell quality characteristics. Egg production and eggshell quality data recorded on individual basis at 54, 58, 64 and 70 weeks of age were pooled to calculate and statistical analysed parameter means for the late production period. Different limestone particle sizes had no effect on any of the tested egg production and eggshell quality parameters. These results suggested that larger particles limestone are not necessarily essential to provide sufficient Ca2+ to laying hens for egg production and eggshell quality at end-of-lay, provided that the dietary Ca content satisfies the requirements of the laying hen.

Keywords: Lohmann-Silver, feed efficiency, egg weight, eggshell thickness, calcification


 

 

Introduction

Butcher & Miles (2005) indicated that eggshell breakage is directly related to eggshell quality and the capacity of the shell to withstand external forces. It is estimated that between 14.3 and 21.3% of the total number of eggs laid worldwide, are either cracked or broken before they reached the final consumer (Chrystal, 2000). Due to the financial implications of eggshell breakages, as well as associated health risks related to cracked shells, eggshell quality still remains one of the primary concerns to the poultry industry. Eggshell formation normally occurs during night time, when no feed consumption occurs, emphasizing the birds dependence on intestinal and skeletal calcium (Ca) reserves for shell calcification. Scott et al. (1971), Brister et al. (1981) and Farmer et al. (1986) suggested that the prolonged retention time of larger particles limestone in the acidic environment of the gizzard would provide more available ionic calcium (Ca2+) during night-time, which could be utilized for eggshell calcification. Consequently, the maintenance of adequate Ca reserves in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) would reduce the dependency on skeletal Ca for eggshell formation, thereby limiting the mobilization of medullary Ca reserves (Farmer et al., 1986). Other authors (Roland, 1986; Keshavarz & McCormick, 1991) also reported an improvement in eggshell quality and egg weight by replacing a part of ground limestone with larger particles. However, due to confounded effects such as differences in Ca sources, particle sizes, age and genotype of birds as well as dietary Ca inclusion levels, it is enigmatic to make meaningful comparisons between documented studies. Recommendations regarding the ideal limestone particle size for layers are under continued investigation and ranged generally between 1.40 and 5.60 mm, depending on the production status and age of the birds. These divergent recommendations clearly indicate the need for more defined margins in terms of the ideal limestone particle size at different production stages.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a specific South African limestone source, differing in particle sizes, on egg production and eggshell qualities during late production.

 

Materials and Methods

All procedures conducted during this study were approved by the Control Committee for Animal Experimentation of the University of the Free State (Animal Experiment No. 13/06). Limestone (360.0 g Ca/kg DM) obtained from a commercial supplier, were graded according to particle size as small (<1.0 mm), medium (1.0 - 2.0 mm) and large (2.0 - 3.8 mm), representing the three treatments. The experimental diet, containing 172.01 g crude protein/kg DM, 14.32 MJ apparent metabolisable energy/kg DM, 51.05 g fat/kg DM, 39.95 g Ca/kg DM and 6.44 g available phosphorus/kg DM was supplied to the animals for the duration of the experimental period. Sixty-nine (69) individually caged (1600 cm2/bird) Lohmann-Silver pullets, 17 weeks of age (1655 ± 18 g), were randomly allocated to the three treatments (n = 23) and housed in a natural ventilated building. Egg production and eggshell quality data recorded on individual basis at 54, 58, 62 and 70 weeks of age were pooled to calculate and statistical analyzed parameter means for the late production period. Daily egg numbers were recorded during the mentioned weeks and hen-day egg production (Ahmad & Balander, 2003) was calculated and expressed as mean egg production (%). Individual egg weights were recorded for all eggs produced and used to calculate mean egg weight for the experimental period. After recording egg weight, individually marked eggs were broken in two halves at the equator (Strong, 1989; Kul & Seker, 2004) and washed under slowly flowing water to remove adhering albumen. Washed shells were allowed to dry for an hour at room temperature, before eggshell thickness measurements were conducted. A micrometer (0.01 mm) was used to make three shell thickness measurements per measurement point on the blunt end, equator and sharp end of individual eggs, resulting in a total of nine measurement readings per egg (Ehtesham & Chowdhury, 2002; Ahmad & Balander, 2003). After recording eggshell thickness, individual shells were stored for the determination of dry shell weight and shell ash content (Clunies et al., 1992). Eggshell quality variables such as egg surface area (Carter, 1975), shell weight per unit surface area (SWUSA) (Wells, 1967), percentage eggshell (Orban & Roland, 1990) and eggshell Ca (g) were calculated.

Individual feed intake was determined on a weekly basis and used to calculate the average daily feed intake of hens, expressed as g/hen/day (g/h/d), during late production. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) were determined by dividing the mean feed intake by the mean egg weight and expressed as gram feed per gram egg produced (g/g). The PROC ANOVA procedure of the SAS programme (SAS, 1999) was used to test for significant (P <0.05) differences between treatments.

 

Results and Discussion

The effects of different particle sizes limestone on egg production, egg weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio during late production are presented in Table 1. These results are in accordance with the findings of Cheng & Coon (1990) and Scheideler (1998) who concluded that limestone particle size had no effect on egg production performance parameters. Contrary to the present findings, Guinotte & Nys (1991) reported that larger particles Ca supplements resulted (P <0.01) in a higher feed intake compared to finer particles. However, the increased feed intake as recorded by Guinotte & Nys (1991) was not accompanied (P >0.05) by an increase in egg production, feed efficiency or increased body weight, and they speculated that the increase in feed intake due to larger particles Ca had resulted in heavier eggs (P >0.05).

Since limestone particle size had no effect (P >0.05) on any of the tested parameters, differences in results between the former mentioned and the present study could probably be ascribed to differences in genetic strain, environmental and housing conditions as well as the interaction between limestone source, particle size and dietary ingredients.

The effects of different particle sizes limestone on eggshell quality characteristics are presented Table 2. Different particle sizes limestone had no effect (P >0.05) on any of the tested parameters during late production. These results are contrary to that of Scott et al. (1971), Brister et al. (1981) and Koreleski & Swiatkiewicz (2004) who reported that larger particles Ca supplements had generally an ameliorating effect on eggshell quality. These authors suggested that the prolonged exposure time of large particles Ca supplements to HCl acid in the gizzard, due to their slower transit time, resulted in an increased dissociation of CaCO3 into bio-available Ca2+ that could be utilized by the fowl for eggshell calcification as well as replenishment of medullary bone reserves. They also suggested that this beneficial effect of large particles Ca supplements are more pronounced in older hens (>48 weeks of age), due to their increased Ca demands for shell calcification and skeletal maintenance and their decreased capability of dietary Ca absorption. Since the anticipated beneficial effects of larger particles limestone on eggshell quality characteristics were not observed during the present study, it could be postulated that either the dietary limestone content fulfil in the requirements of the hens and/or that the solubility of the smallest (<1.0 mm) particles of this specific limestone source was sufficient for optimal eggshell quality during late production.

In support to the present study, Cheng & Coon (1990) and Guinotte & Nys (1991) concluded that larger particles limestone had no beneficial effect on egg production or eggshell quality characteristics, provided that dietary Ca levels (>36.0 g Ca/kg) are optimum. The hypotheses of these authors was that the beneficial effect of larger particles limestone on eggshell quality diminishes as dietary Ca levels increase from marginal to optimal, suggesting that dietary Ca levels are fundamentally more important to ensure proper eggshell quality than the physical size of the Ca source. Since the dietary Ca content of the present study was 39.95 g Ca/kg DM, it could be concluded that the hypothesis of the former authors was supported by the present findings. From the present study, it seems that limestone with a minimum particle size of at least 1.0 mm would supply sufficient Ca2+ to laying hens during later stages of production, without any detrimental effect on egg production and eggshell quality.

 

Conclusions

Results from the present study indicated that large particle size limestone had no beneficial effect on egg production and eggshell quality characteristics of laying hens at later stages (>54 weeks of age) of production. These results suggested limestone particles (>1.0 mm) from this specific source would supply sufficient Ca2+ to maintain proper egg production and eggshell quality, provided that a dietary Ca level of at least 39.95 g Ca/kg DM and/or a daily Ca-intake of 3.96 g/hen/day is maintained.

 

References

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# Corresponding author. E-mail: dewittfh.sci@ufs.ac.za

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