Effect of Lithothamnium calcareum on egg quality and production in laying hens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/pedytf69Keywords:
supplementation, laying rate, heat stress, internal quality, nutritional additivesAbstract
The use of alternative calcium sources in laying hen diets has gained increasing interest due to their potential effects on egg quality and productive performance. This study evaluated the effect of including Lithothamnium calcareum (calcareous algae) as an alternative calcium source on egg quality and productive performance in 70-week-old Hy-Line laying hens. A total of 342 hens were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: 0.0% (control), 1.5%, and 3.0% Lithothamnium calcareum inclusion for eight weeks. Eggshell strength and thickness, egg mass, laying rate, and the percentage of first-grade eggs were evaluated. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed among treatments in eggshell strength (3.5–4.1 N/kg) or eggshell thickness (0.34–0.38 mm). However, at week 77, the control treatment showed lower egg mass (5.4 ± 0.4 kg) than the 1.5% (6.4 ± 0.2 kg) and 3.0% (6.6 ± 0.2 kg) algae treatments (p < 0.05). Likewise, the percentage of first-grade eggs was lower in the control group (83%) than in the supplemented groups (96% and 99%; p < 0.05), as was the laying rate (72% vs. 85–86%). No significant differences among treatments were detected during the remaining weeks of the trial. The results indicate that Lithothamnium calcareum supplementation did not modify the evaluated physical eggshell characteristics and could represent an alternative calcium source for partially replacing calcium carbonate in diets for late-cycle laying hens. Nevertheless, because differences among treatments were observed only at the end of the experimental period, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
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