Veterinary World, Vol.

2(6): 231-233 RESEARCH

Influence of calcium and phosphorus supplements with

synergistic herbs on egg shell quality
in late layers
Sharma, R.K.1, Ravikanth, K.2, Maini, S.2, Rekhe, D.S.2 and Rastogi, S.K.3

College of Veterinary Science,

G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand.

Abstract
A study was conducted in 55 week old laying hen (n=225) to determine efficacy of calcium and
phosphorus supplements in improving egg and shell quality traits. Birds were randomly divided
into three groups, one control and two treatments. Group I (control) was offered basal diet without
any additional supplement source of Calcium and phosphorus. Group II was supplemented Ayucal
liquid (Dabur Ayurvet Ltd.) @15ml/ 100 birds/ day in drinking water and group III administered
Ayucal premix@15g/ 100 birds/ day in feed from 55th- 62nd week age. Parameters studied were
egg weight, shell thickness, breaking strength, number of shell defects and specific gravity of egg.
Results of experiemental study revealed that supplementation of Ayucal liquid & Ayucal premix
(supplied by Ayurvet Ltd. Baddi, India) improved overall egg and shell quality traits that can be
correlated well with the activity of herbal constituents of the products owing calcium and phosphorus
mineralization properties.
Keywords: Calcium, Phosphorus, Synergistic herbs, Egg Shell, Egg, late layers.

Introduction birds of 55 weeks age, approaching their late lay period,

Eggs with inferior shell quality are a major to study efficacy of dietary supplementation of calcium
economic loss to poultry industry. It is estimated that and phosphorus on egg shell quality traits. Birds
due to poor shell quality about 6-8% of eggs are lost in were randomly divided into three groups, one control
different phase of egg handling system from point of and two treatments, respectively. All the three groups
production to point of consumption (Camarius et al., were offered basal Diet (layer mash as recommended
1996). A number of factors regulate egg shell quality by NRC, 1994) (table1). Group I (control) was offered
viz. genetics, age, nutrition and environment (Batshan basal diet without any additional supplement
et al., 1994). As age advances proportion of yolk source of Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). Group II
increases, whereas proportions of albumen and shell was supplemented Ayucal liquid@15ml/ 100 birds/ day
thickness decreases (Fletcher et al., 1983). Calcium is in drinking water and group III administered Ayucal
the key macromineral involved in shell formation and premix (Dabur Ayurvet Ltd., India) @15g/ 100 birds/
is also required for maintenance and production of day in feed from 55th- 62th week age, respectively.
laying hens. However, hen’s ability to absorb Ca from Ayucal premix is calcium and phosphorus supple-
digestive tract and medullary bones is reduced with ment enriched with synergistic herbs (supplied by
age (Ousterhout, 1980). Both shell thickness and shell Ayurvet Limited, Baddi, India) and Ayucal Liquid is a
stiffness decrease as age advances (Carnarius et al., polyherbal formulation to improve the utilization of Ca
1996) because increased demand for Ca deposition and and P. To determine egg shell quality, 30 samples
to construct eggshell may be compromised since of eggs were collected every week from each group.
requirement is not met by normal diet and additional Parameters studied were shell thickness, breaking
sources of Ca are required to be supplemented strength, specific gravity of egg and number of
(Summers and Leeson, 1983). shell defects. In addition to it, mean egg weight
Materials and Methods per group was also calculated from represen-
A trial was conducted at the Institutional poultry tative samples/group/ week. Shell thickness was
farm, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, in 225 layer determined using micrometer and shell thickness
1. Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Nutrition 2. R&D team, Ayurvet Limited, Baddi, (H.P.), India.
3. Professor and Head, Dept. of Animal Physiology
www.veterinaryworld.org Veterinary World Vol.2, No.6, June 2009 231
 Influence of calcium and phosphorus supplements with synergistic herbs on egg shell quality in late layers

Table-1: Feed offered to layer birds during 7 week long experimental trial:

Ingredients Layer Phase-11Mash 46 -72 weeks (Kgs)

Maize 57.000
D.O.R.B 12.725
Soyabean Meal 22.000
Mineral Mixture 3.000
Shell Grit 5.000
Vitamin A+B2+D3+K 0.030
Vitamin B. Complex 0.025
Lysine 0.100
DL.Methionine 0.050
Total 100.00

was determined using breaking strength instrument revealed that mean breaking strength in treated groups
(kg/cm2). Specific gravity was determined using is significantly higher in group II (3.19 ±0.83kg/cm) and
floatation technique as described by Haerms et al.,(1990). group III (3.180.63 kg/cm) than the untreated control
Numbers of shell defects were estimated by recording group (2.76±0.79kg/cm). As age advances shell
number of defects per batch of representative samples. breakage increases and breaking strength decreases
Statistical analysis was done as per the method given (Washburn, 1982). However, supplementation of Ayucal
by Snedecor and Cochran, (1994). premix and Ayucal liquid has been observed to reverse
Results and Discussion the trend by increasing the bioavailability of
macrominerals Ca and P. Mean Specific gravity of
The results of experiemental study are
control is significantly lower than the treated groups
summarized in table No.2. Mean egg weight in the
during 56-72 weeks age. Mean specific gravity of both
control group is significantly low (56.4±0.2gm) in
the treated groups is 1.06, which falls into the normal
comparision to the treated groups, 57.9±0.3gm in
range. Egg specific gravity usually declines as the hen
Ayucal liquid treated group II and 58±0.2 gm in Ayucal
ages (Carnarius et al., 1996). This is partly due to the
premix treated group III owing to the mineralization
size of the egg increasing more rapidly than shell
properties of the synergistic constituent herbs (viz.
weight. More is calcium deposition in shell, thicker is
Cissus quadrangularis, Lepidium sativum, Uraria picta
egg shell and higher is the egg weight and specific
etc.) in the two formulations that enhances the
gravity (Fletcher et al., 1983). Numbers of defective
bioavailability of Ca and P for egg shell formation and
eggs in control group were significantly higher (4.9%)
for deposition in medullary bones. A reverse trend has
as compared to two treatments; group II (2.3 %) and
been observed in control group birds indicating that
group III (2.4%). The frequency of defective eggs may
the untreated birds of control group were not able to
increase from 7 to 11% during laying, collecting and
sustain the egg weight due to either deficiency or poor
packaging phases of egg production in late layers
bioavailability of dietary Ca and P. The results are
(Camarius et al., 1996). The decrease in mean shell
consistent with those reported by Keshavarz and
defect % in Ayucal Liquid and Ayucal premix
Nakajima, (1993). Overall mean Shell thickness during
supplemented groups is suggestive of efficacy of the
7 weeks late lay period is significantly higher in
product in increasing bioavailability of macrominerals
both the treated groups (Group II: 0.33±0.41mm and
in laying birds. It can be concluded from the results
group III:0.33±0.55mm) than the control group
that supplementation of Ayucal liquid and Ayucal
(0.30±0.23mm). Older hens may have reduced ability
premix improves egg specific gravity, egg shell
to absorb dietary Ca that cannot be compensated by
thickness and egg weight, breaking strength that can
addition of sources of Ca in the ration (Ousterhout,
be correlated with the activity of herbal constituents of
1980). As the hen ages and the eggs get bigger, a
the products owing calcium and phosphorus
similar amount of calcium has to be spread over a larger
mineralization properties, responsible for enhancing the
surface, thereby decreasing shell thickness (Carnarius
bio-availability of calcium and phosphorus in gizzard.
et al., 1996). However supplementation of calcium and
phosphorus has been found to increase overall mean References
shell thickness as observed in present study and also 1. Kamarius, K.M., Conrat, K.M., Mast, M.G. and Macnail,
reported by Clunies et al., (1992). Results of trial J.H. (1996): Relationship of egg shell ultrastructure

www.veterinaryworld.org Veterinary World Vol.2, No.6, June 2009 232

 Influence of calcium and phosphorus supplements with synergistic herbs on egg shell quality in late layers

Table-2: Egg and shell quality traits of control & treatment group laying hen during experimental
period of 55-62 weeks age

Parameters Group I(Control) Group II(Ayucal Liquid) Group III(Ayucal powder)

Shell breakage No. 98 60 62
Shell breakage % 4 2.3 2.4
Shell defects No. 121 60 61
Shell defects % 4.9 2.3 2.4
Mean Specific gravity 1.03±0.51a 1.06±0.24b 1.06±0.09b
Mean Shell thickness (mm) 0.30±0.23a 0.33±0.41b 0.33±0.55b
Mean Breaking Strength (kg/cm2) 2.76±0.79a 3.19±0.83b 3.18±0.63b
Mean Egg Weight (gm) 56.4±0.2a 57.9±0.3b 58±0.2b

and shell strength to the soundness of egg shells. 6. Keshavarz, K. and Nakajima, S. (1993): Re evaluation
Poul. Sci., 76, 655-663. of calcium and phosphorus requirements of laying hens
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K.E. (1994): Duodenal calcium uptake, femur ash and Sci. 72, 144-153.
egg shell quality decline with age & increase following 7. Clunies, M., Park, D. and Leeson, S. (1992): Calcium
molt. Poul. Sci.73, 1509-1516. and phosphorus metabolism and egg shell formation
3. Ousterhout, L.E. (1980): Effect of calcium and
of hens fed different amounts of calcium. Poul. Sci.,
phosphorus levels on egg weight and egg shell quality
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in laying hens. Poul. Sci. 59, 1480-1484.
4. Summers, J.D. and Leeson, L. (1983): Factors 8. Washburn, K.W. (1982): Influence, cause and
influencing egg size. Poul. Sci., 62., 1153-1159. production of egg shell breakage in commercial poultry
5. Haerms, R.H., Rossi, A.F., Milles, R.D. and Christmos, production. Poul. Sci. 32, 43-61.
R.D. (1990): A method of estimating egg shell weight 9. Snedecor & Cochran, (1994): Statistical methods 6th
and correcting specific gravity for egg weight in egg edn. Of Iowa State University Press, Amos Iowa,
shell quality studies. Poul. Sci. 69, 48-52. U.S.A.

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