Effect of particle size of dietary limestone on egg production and egg shell quality in spent layers
2015
Nisar, F.
The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of dietary limestone particle size in spent layer's diet on egg production and egg shell characteristics. This research was undertaken at Raja Muhammad Akram Animal Nutrition Research Center, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The birds were individually placed in cag.es (1 x 1.5 x 1.6). Each bird was taken as replicate. The birds were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments (10 birds treatment) designated as diet A, Band C. The experimental diets were typical layer mash (CP 16.0 %; ME 2750 Kcal/Kg; Ca 4.0% P; 0.41%) containing calcium carbonate (limestone) of different sizes as a source of calcium. Diet A had limestone in powder form, whereas diet Band C had medium (2 mm) and larger particle size (4 mm). Record of daily egg production, egg mass and egg density was maintained. The egg quality was assessed in terms/of eggshell weight, shell thickness and egg breaking strength at the end of trial. On day first and last of the trial, blood samples (5 ml) were collected from each bird for serum calcium analysis. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance Technique under Completely Randomized Design. No change in egg production, egg weight or egg density across the treatments i.e. calcium particle size was observed. Egg characteristics remained un-changed except eggshell thickness that was observed to improve significantly (P less than 0.001) with greater particle size (2 and 4 mm). No change in serum calcium was noted across the treatments.
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