Blood Plasma Mineral Profile and Qualitative Indicators of the Eggshell in Laying Hens in Different Housing Systems

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the blood plasma mineral profile (Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn, Cu and Se) and egg-shell quality (eggshell weight, eggshell breaking strength and thickness) of laying hens housed in three different housing systems (traditional cage system, enriched cage system and deep litter system). In each housing system, 12 ISA Brown laying hens were observed during the laying period from week 22 to 75 of age. The effect (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) of age and/or phase of the laying cycle on all mineral concentrations was determined. Eggshell breaking strength decreased (p < 0.001) with the age of birds. The results of this study indicate that the housing systems compared had no significant effect on the blood plasma mineral profile of laying hens under study and the values were within the physiological range. However, a significant effect of housing system on eggshell breaking strength and eggshell weight was found. Improved eggshell quality was obtained in most periods of the laying cycle in the enriched cage systems. Blood minerals, egg-shell quality, standard cage, enriched cage, deep litter floorPassage of the Council Directive 1999/74/EC has resulted in the replacement of traditional cages with enriched cages, litter technologies or aviaries to improve the welfare of laying hens. The shell quality remains one of the most important issues for the technology of further egg handling (Ledvinka et al. 2000). However, some authors pointed out that there are differences in eggshell quality and proportion of cracked eggs between different housing systems (Abrahamsson et al. 1995;Abrahamsson and Tauson 1997;Wall and Tauson 2002). Shell quality can be influenced by many factors including mineral nutrition. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are major inorganic constituents of avian eggshells (Cusack et al. 2003). Simons (1976) found small amounts of potassium, copper and zinc in the palisade layer of the eggshell. The presence of sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and copper was confirmed also in the shell membranes (Wedral et al. 1974). The importance of minerals is reflected in changes of arrangement pattern of shell membrane fibres in relation to the structural composition of the eggshell, for example when using copper-and magnesium-deficient diets (Leach and Gross 1983). Traces of magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc were also found in the egg cuticle. Plasma mineral concentrations during the laying period can be influenced by many factors; such as laying rate and energy requirements (Suchý et al. 2001), partial quantitative feed restriction (Sahin and Kucuk 2001), mineral supplements (Eren et al. 2004), ambient temperature (Siegel 1995;Donoghue et al. 1990;Ching 1992;Belay and Teeter 1993; Večerek et al. 2002), production type (Suchý et al. 2004), age of hens (Cerolini et al. 1990;Gyenis et al. 2006), stress (Beisel 1982Combs and Combs 1984; Tufft and Nockles 1991;Klasing 1998), exposure to heavy metals (Zralý et al. 2008), etc.With regard to differences in eggshell quality between different ho...

Effect of hen age, environmental temperature, and oviposition time on egg shell quality and egg shell and serum mineral contents in laying and broiler breeder hens

“…Pavlik et al (2009) described plasma Mg levels increasing till 47 weeks of age and subsequently decreasing to 75 weeks of age, our results corroborating with this report. Serum Zn contents also decreased during the day irrespective of treatment (Table 3) but in this case the levels were significantly different between strains.…”

“…Serum P content also remained constant throughout the day (Table 3) irrespective of treatment, although older birds had higher serum P contents than younger hens. Higher plasma P levels have been reported by Suchy et al (2004) in laying hens at the end of the laying cycle but these results are in contrast to those of Eren et al (2004) and Pavlik et al (2009) where plasma P content was higher at the beginning of the laying cycle. Gunaratne and Boorman (1996) and Boorman and Gunaratne (2001) reported a negative relationship between plasma P level and egg shell weight in the early eggs in the sequence, but we did not take into account the sequence number of eggs in our trial.…”

“…Similarly, Gunaratne and Boorman (1996) could measure no significant trends in plasma Ca during the day. The serum Ca content was the same at both ages which is in contrast with Brackpool et al (1996), Suchy et al (2004), Gyenis et al (2006), and Pavlik et al (2009) who demonstrated a gradual decrease in plasma Ca with age. However, differences in serum Ca between laying hens and broiler breeders were the same as reported by Suchy et al (2004) who described highly significantly lower plasma Ca levels in broiler breeders than in egg type hens.…”

Effect of Dietary β-Mannanase Supplementation and Palm Kernel Meal Inclusion on Laying Performance and Egg Quality in 73 Weeks Old Hens

“…In this study, the highest HDEP in mannanase supplemented 5% PKM diet was respectively associated with the highest feed intake of the diet. It is well known that feed intake of laying hen typically decreased after 50 th week (Pavlik et al, 2009) of age. Therefore, it is believed that the PKM inclusion contributed, in certain extent, for stimulating feed intake in this study.…”

“…Old aged laying hens are known to consume less feed with increasing age (Pavlik et al, 2009), which has led to a decrease in egg production. Therefore, the egg production from the hens older than 65~70 weeks has always been a serious challenge especially on economic stand point.…”