Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T02:20:11.188Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Observations on the calcium balance of laying hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. Hurwitz
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
P. Griminger
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Extract

Two groups of Single Comb White Leghorn pullets, 4 months of age, were fed 1·85 and 2·70% calcium in the diet, respectively, for twelve consecutive periods, each consisting of 4 weeks.

Records of egg production and egg weight were kept throughout the entire experiment for each hen. Calcium balance and egg-shell quality studies were conducted with 16 pullets for 5 consecutive days out of each 28-day period.

A highly significant difference between the lots favouring the high-calcium birds was found in egg production, shell weight, and calcium retention. There were no significant differences between the lots in percentage calcium retention, food consumption, and body weight. The high-calcium group was shown to retain more calcium from the feed and excrete more calcium through eggs. Calcium retention and percentage calcium retention increased upon commencement of egg production to reach a maximum at the second period of production. Both remained fairly constant thereafter.

The hens went into negative balance early in production and returned to positive balance during the later part of the first laying year. The return to positive balance could be explained by an increase in calcium retention and a decrease in egg production. There was no reduction in shell weight, or shell weight per unit surface area during the period covered by this trial.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1960

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Becker, M. & Harnisch, S. (1958). Arch. Tierernähr. 8, 401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buckner, G. D., Martin, J. H., Pierce, W. C. & Peter, A. M. (1922). J. Biol. Chem. 51, 51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buckner, G. D., Martin, J. H., Pierce, W. C. & Peter, A. M. (1925). Amer. J. Physiol. 72, 458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, E. P. & Collip, J. B. (1925). J. Biol. Chem. 63, 461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Common, R. H. (1933). J. Agric. Sci. 23, 555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Common, R. H., Maw, W. A. & Jowsey, J. R. (1953). Canad. J. Agric. Sci. 33, 172.Google Scholar
Common, R. H., McCully, K. A., Steppler, H. A. & Maw, W. A. (1956). Canad. J. Agric. Sci. 36, 166.Google Scholar
Conrad, R. M. (1939). Poult. Sci. 18, 327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, W. J. & Massey, Jr., F. G. (1957). Introduction to Statistical Analysis, 2nd ed.New York: McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duncan, D. L. (1958). Nutr. Abstr. Rev. 28, 695.Google Scholar
Hand, C. J. E. & Tyler, C. (1955). J. Sci. Fd Agric. 6, 743.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, H. H., Card, L. E. & Hamilton, T. S. (1931). Bull. Ill. Agric. Exp. Sta. no. 367.Google Scholar
Morgan, C. L. & Mitchell, J. H. (1938). Poult. Sci. 17, 99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, C. L., Mitchell, J. H., Ringrose, R. C. & Lease, E. J. (1942). Poult. Sci. 21, 212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mueller, C. D. & Scott, H. M. (1940). Poult. Sci. 21, 163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Romanoff, A. L. & Romanoff, A. J. (1949). The Avian Egg. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Taylor, T. G. & Moore, J. H. (1954). Brit. J. Nutr. 8, 112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, T. G. & Moore, J. H. (1956). Brit. J. Nutr. 10, 250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyler, C. (1946). J. Agric. Sci. 36, 263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyler, C. (1950). Brit. J. Nutr. 4, 112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyler, C. & Willcox, J. D. (1942). J. Agric. Sci. 32, 62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, D. C. & Schnepel, L. (1940). Poult. Sci. 19, 67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welcher, F. G. (1958). Analytical Use of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid. Princeton, N.J.: Von Norstad Press.Google Scholar