{"id":207904,"date":"2024-02-06T13:54:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T12:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/?p=207904"},"modified":"2024-02-06T14:10:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:10:42","slug":"layer-nutrition-eggshell-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/en-uk\/layer-nutrition-eggshell-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Influence of nutrition and management on eggshell quality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conference report<\/em><\/p>\n

Many factors affect eggshell quality, such as nutrition, disease, genetics, environmental conditions, age of birds, stress, egg collection and handling, and packaging and transport. Eggshell quality, however, is primarily related to management and nutrition, not genetics or other factors. It is becoming a bigger issue as the length of the laying period has extended because, as hens get older, shell quality drops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe information in the genetics companies\u2019 management guides is for direction and information only, as each egg producer\u2019s production goals and conditions can vary\u201d, says Vitor Arantes, Global Technical Services Manager and Global Nutritionist, Hy-Line International. He advises listening to your birds. For example, \u201cdiets should be aligned with the bird\u2019s bodyweight development, rather than the age of birds and following feeding phases according to pre-planned timings for feed changes,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Below are some of the nutritional factors impacting eggshell quality that producers should keep top of mind.<\/p>\n

Early development and pre-starter diets<\/h2>\n

\u201cBodyweight at 6-12 weeks of age is key, but to achieve this goal, bodyweight up to 5 weeks of age is a MUST, stressed,\u201d Dr. Arantes. \u201cThis critical period is an investment, so don\u2019t be shy. Poor management in the first 5 weeks will delay production, increase mortality, and prevent the achievement of peak production targets. In turn, it will affect egg quality. Therefore, we must provide proper diets as soon as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As shown below, chicks hatch with relatively underdeveloped internal organs and systems. During the first 5 weeks of age, the digestive tract and the immune system undergo much of their development. The development of the intestine is crucial for nutrient absorption and will determine a hen\u2019s future production efficiency. Strong intestinal development will also strengthen the immune system and reduce the possibility of future enteric diseases and improve the response to vaccinations.<\/p>\n

Multi-phasic body weight development during rearing and the start of lay<\/h2>\n

Pre-starter diets support the chicks\u2019 transition from being fed by the yolk sac and are relatively high in energy, protein, and the vitamins and minerals required for growth and development. The chicks\u2019 limited digestive capacity post-hatch demands easily digestible raw materials. A crumble containing high-quality, functional ingredients provides a good nutritional start in life. The use of feed additives, such as enzymes to improve digestibility, and synbiotics to aid in the early development of a microbial population and to prevent the intestinal colonization of pathogens, known as competitive exclusion, should be considered.<\/p>\n

Teaching hens how to eat \u2013 preparing for the pre-peak phase<\/h2>\n

The objective is to develop sufficient feed intake capacity for the period start of lay, by feeding a developer diet from 10-16 weeks of age. This is a diluted diet with high levels of insoluble fiber to develop feed intake capacity (crop and gizzard).<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can train pullets to eat by taking advantage of their natural feeding behavior,\u201d commented Dr. Arantes \u201cBecause birds consume most of their feed before lights go off, the main feed distribution (60% of the daily ration) should be in the late afternoon, about 2-3 hours before \u2018light off\u2019. In the morning, birds will be hungry and finish the feed, including fine particles. Emptying feeders helps to prevent selective eating and will increase the uniformity of the flock. In the middle of the day, there should be no feed in feeders for 60-90 minutes,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t neglect the pre-lay phase<\/h2>\n

Start feeding a pre-lay diet when most pullets show reddening of the combs, which is a sign of sexual maturity. Feed for a maximum of 10\u201314 days before the point of lay. This is important to increase medullary bone calcium reserves. Large particle calcium should be introduced in this phase. Do not feed pre-lay later than the first egg as it contains insufficient calcium to support egg production.<\/p>\n

There can be a negative impact on feed consumption from the sudden increase in dietary calcium levels from 1% to above 4% at the start of lay. Field experience indicates that the use of pre-lay diets helps as a smooth transition between the developer (low calcium and nutrient density) and the peaking diet. Correct feed formulation and matching diet density with consumption will minimize the impact of reduced calcification of bone over the laying cycle and extend the persistency of shell quality. It also helps to avoid the often-reduced appetite\/daily feed intake during early production.<\/p>\n

The following are suggested for pre-layer feed:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • 1.25 to 1.40% P<\/li>\n
  • 2.5% Ca (50% coarse limestone)<\/li>\n
  • 900-1,100g per hen total<\/li>\n
  • Never before 15 weeks of age<\/li>\n
  • Never after 2% hen day (HD) egg production<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Understand your limestone<\/h2>\n

    Calcium particle size is important for eggshell quality. Fine calcium carbonate particles pass through the gastrointestinal tract in 2-3 hours, whereas particles above 2mm are retained in the gizzard and will slowly solubilize, delaying the calcium assimilation. Eggshell formation takes 12 to 14 hours and occurs mainly during the night period. Providing a high amount of large calcium particle size before the night, when birds are sleeping, will help laying hens to produce a strong eggshell.<\/p>\n

    The ratio of coarse to fine calcium particles will increase with bird age as below. Changing the particle size ensures that more calcium will be available at night from the diet instead of from the bone.<\/p>\n

    Calcium particle size recommendations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Particle size<\/strong><\/td>\nStarter, Grower, Developer<\/strong><\/td>\nPre-Lay<\/strong><\/td>\nWeeks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    17-37<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Weeks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    38-48<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Weeks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    49-62<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Weeks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    63+<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Fine (<2mm)<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n40%<\/td>\n35%<\/td>\n30%<\/td>\n25%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Coarse (2-4mm)<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n60%<\/td>\n55%<\/td>\n70%<\/td>\n75%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    The solubility of limestone may differ according to the source. Calcium with high solubility will not be stored for a long time in the gizzard, negating the particle size effect. Dietary calcium levels may need to be adjusted based on the solubility of your limestone. The in vitro solubility of your limestone source can easily be checked on the farm, with a simple technique using hydrochloric acid. The target is to recover 3-6% of the supplemented limestone.<\/p>\n

    Water<\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s impossible to have good eggshell quality if you don\u2019t have good water intake and good quality water. For example, excessive salt levels in drinking water can cause persistent damage to shell quality.<\/p>\n

    Conclusion: invest in the rearing phase<\/h2>\n

    Good nutrition and management practices are key to good shell quality. The rearing period is a key developmental time for future success during the laying period – it is an investment phase.<\/p>\n

    ***<\/p>\n

    EW Nutrition\u2019s Poultry Academy took place in Jakarta and Manila in early September 2023. Vitor Arantes, Global Technical Services Manager and Global Nutritionist, Hy-Line International, was a distinguished guest speaker in this event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Conference report Many factors affect eggshell quality, such as nutrition, disease, genetics, environmental conditions, age of birds, stress, egg collection and handling, and packaging and transport. Eggshell quality, however, is primarily related to management and nutrition, not genetics or other factors. It is becoming a bigger issue as the length of the laying period has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":207950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8047,8353,8030],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-207904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eggs-en-uk","category-layer-en-uk","category-poultry-en-uk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInfluence of nutrition and management on eggshell quality - EW Nutrition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What impact does the breeder farm have on chick quality? 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