Alternative calcium source effects on commercial egg production and quality

• Autor(a) principal: Pelicia, K. [UNESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Garcia, Edivaldo Antonio [UNESP], Scherer, M. R. S. [UNESP], Mori, C. [UNESP], Dalanezi, J. A. [UNESP], Faitarone, A. B. G. [UNESP], Molino, A. B., Berto, Dirlei Antonio [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-635X2007000200005; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/14141
• topic: alternative calcium source; eggshell quality; limestone replacement; marine algae; marine calcium

This study aimed at verifying the possibility of replacing calcitic limestone by marine calcium in the diet of layers. A total number of 321 Hi-sex hens, with 40 weeks of age at the beginning of the experiment, was used. A completely randomized experimental design was applied, with 5 treatments (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 % of calcitic limestone replacement by marine calcium source) and eight replicates of eight birds each. Treatments significantly affected specific gravity (p<0.05), with the inclusion of 60% marine calcium (T5) presenting the worst result as compared to T1, which included only calcitic limestone as calcium source. It was concluded that marine calcium can replace up to 45% of calcitic limestone with no effects on performance or egg quality.