Influence of particle size and calcium source on production performance, egg quality, and bone parameters in laying ducks

Abstract

The influence of calcium source (limestone and oyster shell) and particle size (<0.1 mm; 0.85 to 2 mm) on laying performance, egg quality, and bone properties were examined in laying ducks by a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Longyan females (288) with similar BW at 24 wk of age were randomly allotted into 4 treatments, each with 6 replicates of 12 individually caged birds and studied over the following 12 wk. Particle size affected egg weight and feed conversion (P < 0.05). Large particle size increased shell breaking strength, albumen height, Haugh unit, and shell content of phosphorus and magnesium (P < 0.05), but had no effect on egg shape, yolk color, shell thickness, or the weight proportion of shell. There were no effects of particle size on tibial properties: dry defatted weight, calcium content, or breaking strength. Limestone increased albumen height, shell content of calcium and phosphorus, and the breaking strength of tibia (P < 0.05). It is concluded that limestone with a large particle size provided for superior productive performance, egg quality, and bone characteristics and is more suitable than oyster shell for practical applications.

Limestone particle size and Aspergillus niger phytase in the diet of older hens

“…The beneficial effects of coarse limestone on laying performance during the late production cycle are more pronounced than the effects on eggshell quality. A similar conclusion was reached by Wang et al (2014) in ducks. Limestone with a large particle size (0.85-2 mm) resulted in superior productive performance, egg quality and bone characteristics.…”

“…Conversely, Skrivan et al (2010) observed an increase in the shell Ca content by 2 mg/g DM (p ¼ .003) in the LC diet fed to older hens. No effect of L particle size on eggshell Ca content in laying ducks was determined by Wang et al (2014), but particle size significantly increased shell P content (p .01). In addition, larger particle size clearly improved the mammillary layer of the duck eggs.…”

Effect of dietary magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and limestone grain size on productive performance and eggshell quality of hens

“…Skrivan et al (2010) described that 1-2 mm grains of limestone increase performance of hens and thickness of the eggshell. Similarly, a study by Wang et al (2014) with the same limestone grain size found positive effects on the strength of the eggshell in ducks. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the effects of the dietary addition of Mg on the quality of eggshell may be related to the grain-size distribution of limestone and the mutual relationship between dietary concentration of Ca and NPP.…”

“…The CL containing 0.8-2 mm particles showed positive effects on the performance of hens, eggshell thickness, and eggshell strength (see Skrivan et al 2010). Wang et al (2014) successfully used L of the same structure in the diet of laying ducks. They achieved significantly better performance (greater egg mass, better feed conversion, higher eggshell strength, albumen height, Haugh units, and P and Mg concentration in the shell).…”

Effects on performance and eggshell quality of particle size of calcium sources in laying hens' diets with different Ca concentrations

“…The results of an experiment by Skrivan et al (2010) showed that the substitution of fine dietary limestone with coarse limestone (0.8-2.0 mm) can increase shell weight, shell thickness and shell Ca content, both in younger (24 to 36 weeks of age) and older layers (56 to 68 weeks), without any effect on shell breaking strength. In a recent study (Wang et al, 2014) the beneficial effect of large-particle limestone on eggshell quality, i.e. eggshell breaking strength, was observed in laying ducks.…”