“…Furthermore, in reports in which commercial pullets were inoculated by eye drop with HpFMG at 10 wk of age, Branton et al [45] showed that eggshell pimpling incidence was increased, but that EP, egg weight, eggshell strength, and Haugh unit scores were not significantly affected, and Branton et al [39] later showed that the percentages of jumbo, extralarge, medium, small, peewee, and undergrade egg sizes were not affected, whereas the percentage of large eggs was reduced. However, when birds were inoculated by eye drop with HpFMG at 45 wk of age, Branton et al [46] noted that EP was reduced and Haugh unit scores were increased without concomitant significant changes in eggshell strength, thickness, or pimpling or in blood and meat spot incidence. Therefore, based on these results, the effects of prelay inoculations of FMG on layer performance are minor, whereas those administered during postpeak lay have the potential to exert greater effects.…”