Pashu Sandesh, 05 April 2021
Dr V.Rajendra Prasad
Poultry Consultant
Heat stress in laying hens reduces feed intake and reduces egg quality. It is also well known that excessive heat during summer results in small eggs or eggs with poor shell quality. High environmental temperature reduces a hen's appetite.
Compromised shell quality can be the result of dietary:
Inadequacy or imbalance of calcium
a) Provide adequate calcium in feed in this proportion:
calcium is the main element that provides strength to the shell.
Available phosphorous:
a) Have adequate phosphorus in feed.
b) Phosphorus is the second most influential mineral regarding eggshell quality.
c) it has been reported that when phytase is part of the phosphorus equation, then the already marginal dietary phosphorus levels can be increased if phytase efficacy is enhanced.
d) Use OptiPhos of Huvepharma, the fastest phytase in the market at 200 gms for a ton of feed as super dosing for improvement of eggshell quality and bone strength.
Vitamin D3 and micro-minerals:
a) incorporate Bio-D 500 of Huvepharma, a source of 25-OH D3 at 500 gms for a ton of feed for eggshell quality and bone
Strength.
b) Vitamin D is part of the calcium-phosphorus homeostasis within the organism.
c) Thus, high levels of dietary vitamin D can influence positively eggshell quality.
Shell quality is also reduced with there is a disease:
a) IB, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. Synoviae, ND and Adenovirus,
b) A hen who receives a healthy diet of good-quality layer feed and oyster shell, who shows symptoms of respiratory illness,
c) Please vaccinate birds for IB and ND.
d) Mycoplasma infections can be prevented by using Vetmulin 10% of Huvpharma program for 3 to 5 days and repeat at every 4 weeks at 15 mg for kg Bodyweight.
A high ambient temperature (respiratory alkalosis)
a) Eggshell alterations may occur more frequently in warmer seasons.
b) Please use electrolytes in water at 1gm for 1 litre.
c) Incorporate Immunotech of ABTL, immunomodulator at 500 gms for a ton of feed continuously which acts as a stress reliever.
Improper handling and packaging
Train labour to handle eggs properly while collecting eggs and packing eggs.
In the case of nutrition, it is key to supplement the poultry feed with organic forms of Zinc, Manganese and Copper.
a) Use Glymet Zinc, Copper and Manganese organic minerals at 100 gms for a ton of feed which are essential for eggshell formation.
b) Zinc, manganese and copper, which all act as cofactors of enzymes involved in the mineralization process during eggshell formation.
Also, Mycotoxins are a problem and contamination can result in
a) immunosuppression,
b) lowered egg production,
c) elevated mortality,
d) degraded shell quality and
e) the appearance of blood spots surrounding the egg yolk.
f) Please use Toxin-free of Norel at 1 to 2 kg for a ton of feed which binds toxins in feed.
Analyse the above reasons in your farm and ensure to take preventive measures to improve shell quality in your farm and increase ROI in summer.