International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O)

and Technology, Vol. 3, No 4, 2014, 1436 – 1439

Review Paper
CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EGG SHELL MEAL
R. Yasothai and N.V. Kavithaa
Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Erode-4

Introduction

The objective of this review paper is to evaluate the eggshell meal is a calcium source
in layer diets. Studies on the evaluation of alternative sources of feed have been more
concerned with energy and protein stuffs. Not much has been made on local alternative
sources for the major mineral nutrients like calcium and phosphorus. The main sources of
calcium are oyster shells, bone meal, limestone and di-calcium phosphate. It is essential in
the formation of shells in eggs and also helps to regulate the passage of nutrients in and out of
the cells. Dicalcium phosphate have been found to be major sources of calcium for livestock
all over the world but are extremely costly following importation. Organic sources of calcium
and phosphorus which are inexpensive and readily available except for the over dependence
by the livestock industry include oyster shells and bone meal. Eggshell is highly rich in
calcium (90%) with little percentage (less than 5%) of phosphorus; it is possible that
optimum dietary level of calcium and phosphorus can be met using eggshell meal as a source.
The aim of this article is therefore, to review the chemical composition of eggshell meal.
Calcium

The inorganic salts of hen’s eggshell contained 98.43 per cent calcium carbonate (Romanoff
and Romanoff, 1949). The calcium content of eggshell meal was 35.2 per cent (Walton and
Cotterill, 1972). Walton et al., (1973) collected three different kinds of eggshell waste from
egg breaking plants viz. eggshell waste as such, eggshell waste centrifuged and eggshell
waste washed and analysed for their calcium content. The percentage calcium content of the
eggshell waste as such, centrifuged sample and washed sample were 36.4, 36.7 and 37.3,
respectively which showed minor variations.
The calcium content of eggshell meal dried in triple pass rotary dehydrator was 33.5 per cent
and that dried in tube type flash dryer was 34.8 per cent (Vandepopuliere et al., 1975).
However, Muir et al. (1976) reported that the calcium content of the eggshell was 34.8 per
cent. The egg breaking plant shell waste dried in a triple pass rotary dehydrator and reported
that the calcium content of eggshell waste was 36.3 per cent (Vandepopuliere et al., 1978).
The inorganic salts of hen’s eggshell contained 97.25 per cent calcium carbonate (Majeed et.
al., 1982). Sim et al. (1983) studied chemical composition of granular eggshell meal and
found that the granular eggshell meal contained 36 per cent calcium. Chicken eggshell
Received June 30, 2014 * Published August 2, 2014 * www.ijset.net
1437 R. Yasothai and N.V. Kavithaa

powder was assessed for its nutritive value in human nutrition, which contained 401±7.2 mg
calcium per gram (Schaafsma et al., 2000).
Phosphorus
Hen’s eggshell contained 0.73 per cent of tricalcium phosphate as inorganic salts (Romanoff
and Romanoff, 1949). However, Walton and Cotterill (1972) reported that the phosphorus
content of eggshell meal was 0.12 per cent. Walton et al. (1973) studied the phosphorus
content of eggshell waste as such, centrifuged eggshell waste and washed eggshell waste and
reported that they were 0.116 per cent, 0.104 per cent and 0.117 per cent, of phosphorus
respectively. Similarly, Vandepopuliere et al. (1978) stated that the phosphorus content of
eggshell meal was 0.11 per cent. But Majeed et al., (1982) reported 0.613 per cent of
tricalcium phosphate in hen’s eggshell.
Magnesium
The magnesium content in eggshell meal was 0.37 per cent (Walton and Cotterill,
1972). Walton et al. (1973) studied three different sources of eggshell waste that had
magnesium content of 0.398 per cent for eggshell waste as such, 0.4 per cent for centrifuged
eggshell waste and 0.407 per cent for washed eggshell waste. The inorganic salts of hen’s
eggshell contained 0.713 per cent of magnesium carbonate (Majeed et al., 1982).
Crude protein
The crude protein content of the eggshell meal was 8.1 per cent (Walton and Cotterill, 1972).
The crude protein content of eggshell waste as such, centrifuged eggshell waste and washed
eggshell waste were 7.56 per cent, 5.31 per cent and 5.15 per cent, respectively (Walton et
al., 1973). The crude protein content of eggshell meal produced in triple pass rotary
dehydrator was 7.5 per cent and in tube type flash dryer was 5.44 per cent. Muir et al.
(1976) reported that the crude protein content of eggshell meal was 7.56 per cent. The crude
protein content of eggshell meal dried in triple rotary dehydrator was 6.46 per cent
(Vandepopuliere et al., 1978). Sim et al. (1983) studied the utilization of granular eggshell
meal as a dietary calcium source for laying hens, which had 5.5 per cent crude protein.
In vitro calcium solubility
A solubility test with particulate seashell, limestone and oyster shell by dissolving
them in 0.1 N HCl and found after 5 minutes were 34±12 per cent, 44±16 per cent and 47±16
per cent solubilized, respectively (Guinotte and Nys, 1991). Keshavarz and Scott (1993) fed
two calcium source (pulverized limestone and pulverized oyster shell) of similar particle size
with different in vitro solubility (47.0 per cent and 77.8 per cent, respectively) and found that
 Chemical Characterization of Egg Shell Meal 1438

in vitro solubility differences of the calcium sources was significant (P < 0.05) but it had no
effect on shell quality and bone mineralization.
Lichovnikova (2007) reported that the in vitro solubility of eggshell was 14 per cent
which was found to be lower as compared to fine limestone (85 per cent), large limestone
(49.5 per cent) or oyster shell (44 per cent). Safaa et al., (2008) studied the in vitro solubility
of fine limestone, coarse limestone and oyster shell by dissolving 2.0 gram sample in 200 ml
of 0.2N HCl for 15 minutes and found that they were 57.47 per cent, 33.48 per cent and 50.65
per cent, respectively.

REFERENCES

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