Effect of dietary supplementation of organic or inorganic manganese on eggshell quality, ultrastructure, and components in laying hens

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplemental levels and sources of manganese (Mn) on performance, eggshell quality, ultrastructure, and components in laying hens. A total of 1,080 46-wk-old Jing Brown hens were fed a basal diet (Mn, 32.7 mg/kg) for 2 wks laying and then randomly allocated to 9 groups that were fed a basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with inorganic (MnSO4·H2O) or organic (amino-acid-Mn, 8.78%) Mn at 40, 80, 120, or 160 mg per kg of feed for 8 wks. Each group had 8 replicates of 15 hens. The results showed that dietary Mn supplementation did not affect the performance of hens (P > 0.05). Dietary Mn supplementation resulted in linear and quadratic increases of breaking strength and thickness in both inorganic and organic forms (P < 0.05), but fracture toughness increased quadratically only in organic groups (P < 0.05). Linear and quadratic effects on effective and mammillary thickness were observed with Mn supplementation from inorganic and organic sources (P < 0.05), and lower mammillary thickness was observed in organic groups (P < 0.05). However, the width of mammillary knobs decreased quadratically only with the supplementation of organic Mn (P < 0.05). Dietary Mn supplementation had a quadratic effect on the shell Mn content in both inorganic and organic forms (P < 0.05). Linear and quadratic effects on the content of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were observed only in calcified eggshell with inorganic Mn supplementation (P < 0.05), while the supplementation of organic Mn had a quadratic effect on sulfated GAGs content in both calcified eggshell and membranes (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary Mn supplementation, regardless of the source, could increase breaking strength and thickness by improving the ultrastructure, which partly results from increased sulfated GAGs content in the eggshell. Moreover, the supplementation of organic Mn could increase fracture toughness by decreasing the width of mammillary knobs, which is partially due to increased sulfated GAGs content in the membranes.

Low-dose of organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without compromising performance of laying hens

“…This study indicates that dietary Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn supplementation levels and sources do not affect ADFI, egg Haugh unit, yolk color, or eggshell thickness, which is consistent with previous studies [17,18]. Tabatabaie et al [19] found that compared to a Zn un-supplemented group, supplemental organic zinc as Albino-Zn at 25 or 50 mg/kg decreased feed intake, and increased albumen height and Haugh unit, but ZnSO 4 in the same levels had minimal impact.…”

Effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and essential oil complex on productive performance, egg quality, and uterus antioxidant capacity of laying hens

“…The ultrastructure of eggshell consists of 5 layers, including the shell membranes ( SM ), the mammillary knob layer ( ML ), the palisade layer, the vertical crystal layer, and the cuticle ( Arias et al,1993 ; Nys et al,1999 ; Gautron et al, 2021 ). It was reported that the average size, shape, and orientation of calcite crystals in the mammillary and palisade layers contribute to quality the eggshells ( Ahmed et al, 2005 ; Fathi et al, 2007 ; Dunn et al, 2012 ; Zhang et al, 2017a , 2017b ). So, it is necessary to study the influence of nutrition strategy on the ultrastructure of eggshell.…”

Dietary addition of zinc-methionine influenced eggshell quality by affecting calcium deposition in eggshell formation of laying hens

“…Differential contents of methionine in these groups were caused by the addition of Zn-Met in the premix, which was corrected by the addition of extra methionine (DL-methionine) in the premix. Hence all nutrients were kept at the same levels except for Zn content which met the nutritional requirements in the basal diet, which was in accordance with NY/T experimental periods for egg quality determination as reported previously (8) . Twelve hens from each treatment group (two hens per replication) were randomly selected and marked.…”

“…To improve eggshell quality, great efforts have been taken in the genetics, environment and nutrition, especially in the micromineral nutrition (5)(6)(7)(8) . Zn, for example, is an essential metal micronutrient with particular physiological functions in all animals (9) .…”