Effect of oyster shell,limestone and calcium premix on egg production and egg shell quality

Abstract

Starcross brown 579 laying pullets (81), 22-week-old, were fed on isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with same level of dietary calcium from different sources, e.g. oyster shell, limestone and calcium premix to evaluate the effect of different dietary calcium sources on egg production and egg shell quality up to 33 week of age. No significant difference (P&gt0.05) in feed intake, hen day egg production, egg weight, shell weight, shell per cent, shell thickness and survivability was noted among pullets on different dietary calcium sources. Egg weight, shell weight, shell per cent and shell thickness was increased with the advancement of age of pullets on calcium premix. Although there was no statistically signiticant difference found in terms of egg production and egg quality on 3 different dietary calcium sources but calcium premix seemed to increase egg production, egg weight, and shell weight than did oyster shell and limestone. The study therefore, suggested that, any of these calcium sources can be considered for laying chicken, but calcium premix would be better at the first phase of production.