Effect of feeding dietary calcium on egg production, egg defects, tibia, and femur bone status during extended laying cycle in commercial layers

Apoorva K. Shinde; Vijaysinh D. Lonkar; Avinash S. Kadam; Vitthal S. Dhaygude; Sanjay M. Bhalerao; Satyavan M. Agivale

Authors

Apoorva K. Shinde Department of Poultry Science, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA
Vijaysinh D. Lonkar Department of Poultry Science, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA
Avinash S. Kadam Department of Poultry Science, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA
Vitthal S. Dhaygude Department of Veterinary Pathology, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA
Sanjay M. Bhalerao Department of Animal Nutrition, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA
Satyavan M. Agivale Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara, MAFSU, Maharashtra, INDIA

Keywords:

Layers, extended laying cycle, tibia, femur, keel bone

Abstract

Total 192 80-week-old commercial layers (BV-300) were randomly assigned to four groups viz., A, B, C, and D (48 hens/group; 4 replicate/group). Laying hens from groups A, B, C, and D were fed with 3.85, 4.00, 4.20, and 4.40% Ca (65% coarser and 35% fine powder form) in their diets, respectively, from 81 to 100 weeks of age. Hen Day Egg Production (HDEP) and egg defect parameters were recorded at four-weekly intervals. Weight, biometry, relative bone index, histomorphometry, ash content of tibia and femur bones, and keel bone scoring was performed at the end of 100 week. Results indicated that the overall HDEP was significantly (p<0.05) higher in layers fed with 4.00 (B) and 4.40% (D) Ca than 3.85 (A) and 4.20% (C). Feeding 4.00 to 4.40% significantly (p<0.05) reduced egg defect percentage, increased normal eggs percentage and decreased pimpled egg percentage, and numerically reduced the percentage of wrinkled, corrugated, misshapen and cracked egg defects compared to 3.85% Ca. Various dietary Ca levels did not influence the tibia and femur's biometrical parameters (length and width), weight, ash and relative bone index. Significant (p<0.05) increase in tibia and femur medullary cavity width, increase (p<0.05) in femur cortical thickness, and decrease (p<0.05) in tibia trabecular thickness with better keel bone score in group B indicated laying hens’ better efficiency to utilize 4.00% Ca. It concludes that the 4.00% dietary Ca during extended laying cycle help to improve egg production and bone status with minimum egg defect.

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