Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
1. Three completed series of laying trials involving the incorporation of calcium lactate in the diet are reported.
2. The addition of 1 or 2% calcium lactate to a layers mash results in a significant increase in egg production and/or the efficiency of the ration in terms of numbers of eggs per unit weight of food consumed. This effect has been obtained in birds at the onset of lay and also in birds that have been in lay for some 5 months.
3. The incorporation of 0·5% calcium lactate appears to be inadequate.
4. There is no evidence to date that the effect is attributable to dietary calcium, but the mechanism of action is unexplained.
5. Egg-weight, but not egg-quality, as judged by routine candling, is slightly lowered by feeding calcium lactate.