An integrated feed, farm and health strategy, including tailored supplementation strategies, farm feeding practices and health management, can support eggshell quality, the longevity of layers’ productivity and producer economics.
High-quality eggshells are a prerequisite for first-grade eggs and production economics. But achieving good eggshell quality becomes more difficult during the late stages of a layer’s production when hens’ shells become thinner while their eggs become larger. This challenge can prompt farmers to replace aging layers with younger hens, compromising economics and environmental sustainability.
Feed and farm factors
Good eggshell formation requires critical macro minerals and essential trace minerals supplied in the feed. Calcium in feed is absorbed into the hen’s bloodstream where it is deposited in medullary bone or used directly by the bird. As a calcium reservoir, medullary bone is a buffer between hens’ calcium uptake in the day and calcium deposition around the eggshell at night.
Older hens metabolise calcium in feed less efficiently than younger birds, leading to thinner eggshells. Several studies have shown that increasing calcium in older hens’ diets can support eggshell integrity and reduce the number of broken eggs.
Timing of nutrient utilisation
Studies also show that time of day matters when it comes to hens’ utilization of nutrients. Researchers observed that when birds were freely able to select dietary intake, hens under-consumed...
Read Full Story: https://www.poultryworld.net/Eggs/Articles/2021/12/Supporting-eggshell-quality-and-the-economics-of-egg-production-830155E/
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