Influence of limestone particle size in layer diets on shell characteristics at peak production

English: A study was conducted to investigate the influence of different particle sizes of a specific amorphous limestone source (calcium carbonate) in a layer diet on egg production and egg quality at peak production (week 24). Ninety nine layer pullets, 17 weeks old, were obtained from a commercial layer breeder. The pullets were randomly allocated to three groups. All the pullets received the same layer diet. The only differences among the treatment groups were that the pullets in each group received one of the three different particle sizes in the diet namely:- (a) Less than 1.0 millimetre (b) 1.0 and 2.0 millimetre (c) 2.0 and 3.8 millimetre The influence of the three particle sizes on the feed intake, body weight and egg production as well as egg characteristics was recorded. The average weekly feed intake, body weight and egg production of layers from week 18 up to 28 were not (P> 0.05) different among the layer diets with the different particle sizes. The particle size of limestone in the layer diets did not influence egg weight (P= 0.2159) and egg output (P=0.2388) significantly at peak production. Average egg weight tended (P= 0.2159) to be heavier when coarse particles were fed. No statistic al significant (P> 0.05) differences in egg volume, egg contents, egg surface area, shell weight per unit surface area, shell percentage and shell thickness occurred. According to these results limestone particle size in layer diets has no influence on eggshell quality. In the second study the effect of particle size distribution of a specific limestone source in layer diet on egg production and egg quality at peak production (week 24) was investigated. One hundred and sixty seven layer pullets , 17 weeks old, were obtained from a commercial layer breeder. The pullets were randomly allocated to five groups. All the pullets received the same layer diet. The only differences among the treatment groups were that the pullets in each group received one of five different ratios of fine (less than 1.0 mm) and coarse (between 2.0 and 3.8 mm) limestone particle size namely 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 % fine or coarse. The influence of the five dietary limestone particle size distributions on the feed intake, body weight, and egg production of layers as well as egg characteristics mentioned in the first study were investigated. No significant (P> 0.05) influence of dietary limestone particle size distribution was found on feed intake, body weight and egg production of layers. Accordingly no significant differences occurred in egg volume, (P= 0.1310) and egg surface area (P= 0.1393). The highest (P< 0.001) egg contents were recorded where 100 and 75% fine limestone particles were included in the diet. Although significant differences for shell weight (P<0.0017) and shell percentage (P<0.0001) occurred, no clear influence of particle size distribution on these characteristics could be detected. In accordance wit h shell weight per unit surface area no significant differences (P> 0.05) in eggshell thickness occurred. It was concluded that different dietary limestone particle sizes and distributions have no influence on eggshell quality at peak production (week 24). The influence of dietary limestone particle size and distribution during the later stages of the laying period on bone formation and egg quality needs further investigation.