Effects of egg shell meal on the performance and haematology of layers and their egg quality

Abstract

In an attempt to achieve Sustainable Development Goals numbers one and two, eggshell meal was incorporated into layers diets to replace bone meal. Seventy-two point of lay birds were utilized in a nine-week experiment. Four experimental diets were formulated consisting of graded levels of bone meal (BM) and egg shell meal (ESM) which were coded as; T₁ (3%BM: 0%ESM), T₂ (2%BM: 1%ESM), T₃ (1%BM: 2%ESM), and T₄ (0%BM: 3% ESM). Three replicates with six birds per replicate in a completely randomized design were used. Total egg weight, average egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of ESM and BM. Birds on T₄ recorded the significantly highest values for these parameters. Yolk width, albumen weight, egg weight and eggshell weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased with an increase in ESM, with eggs obtained from T₄ having the highest values. From this study, complete replacement of bone meal with eggshell meal in the diet of layers, i.e. T₄, gave the overall best results. It is recommended that farmers replace bone meal with egg shell meal as a major source of dietary calcium and phosphorus for laying birds.

Keywords:

• egg shell
• performance
• bone meal
• egg quality
• calcium
• phosphorus

Acknowledgements

Appreciation goes to Dr M. E. Sanda and Mrs A Oyibo for all the technical, material and moral support. I also acknowledge the contributions of Khalid Yusuf, Ikubaje, Maryann, Okpanachi, Gift, Ode, Caleb, Suleiman, Abdulrahman, Abubakar, Balkisu and others who contributed in one way or the other to the success of this study. I also want to acknowledge the South African Government and some South African agencies who assisted me in attending the African Unity for Renaissance Conference in 2017, where I presented a paper on ‘Effects of egg shell meal on the performance of layers and their egg quality.’ God bless you all.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).