Open AccessEggshell strength
Author(s) -
D. Vitorović,
Ž. Pavlovski,
Zdenka Škrbić,
Miloš Lukić,
I Adamovic
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
biotechnology in animal husbandry/biotechnology in animal husbandry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2217-7140
pISSN - 1450-9156
DOI - 10.2298/bah0404107v
Subject(s) - eggshell , zoology , breaking strength , calcium , particle size , materials science , chemistry , mineralogy , biology , composite material , metallurgy , ecology
Eggshell quality was studied in two groups of Shaver hens (300 hens per group) 30 weeks of age. All hens received a basic diet of the same composition with pulverized limestone as a source of calcium. The experimental group received 2 g of granular limestone (particle size 1.1-1.4 mm) per hen per day during one week, adding on the concentrate in the afternoon. Significantly lower deformation (19 m), higher breaking force (4,1 kg) and shell thickness (39, 3 x 0.01 mm) were registered for eggs of experimental group of hens than for eggs of control group (24 m; 3.3 kg 36.5 x 0.01 mm, respectively). The results obtained in our investigation showed possibilities of eggshell strength improvement using 2 g of larger particle size of limestone as additional source of calcium.