Effects of Dietary Boric Acid Supplementation on Performance, Eggshell Quality and Some Serum Parameters in Aged Laying Hens
The effects of dietary boric acid (BA) supplementation on feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg production, egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and some serum parameters (Ca, P, and Mg) were examined in 100 layer hens at 60 weeks of age. Commercial corn-soy-based layer diets were formulated as basal diets for the control treatment. Basal diets were supplemented with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg BA (H3BO3), respectively, in experimental groups I, II, and III. In total, 4 dietary treatments were employed in the experiment. The experiment lasted 75 days. Feed efficiency and egg production values were not affected significantly by dietary treatments during the experiment (P > 0.05). However, layer hens that received diets supplemented with BA had better feed consumption, egg weight, percentage of cracked eggs, and egg shell quality (eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength) than the control group. Additionally, serum Mg levels were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by BA supplementation. It was concluded that dietary boron supplementation has positive effects on mineral balance, and therefore reduces the percentage of cracked eggs by improving eggshell thickness and egg shell breaking strength in aged laying hens.
Effects of Dietary Boric Acid Supplementation on Performance, Eggshell Quality and Some Serum Parameters in Aged Laying Hens
The effects of dietary boric acid (BA) supplementation on feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg production, egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and some serum parameters (Ca, P, and Mg) were examined in 100 layer hens at 60 weeks of age. Commercial corn-soy-based layer diets were formulated as basal diets for the control treatment. Basal diets were supplemented with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg BA (H3BO3), respectively, in experimental groups I, II, and III. In total, 4 dietary treatments were employed in the experiment. The experiment lasted 75 days. Feed efficiency and egg production values were not affected significantly by dietary treatments during the experiment (P > 0.05). However, layer hens that received diets supplemented with BA had better feed consumption, egg weight, percentage of cracked eggs, and egg shell quality (eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength) than the control group. Additionally, serum Mg levels were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by BA supplementation. It was concluded that dietary boron supplementation has positive effects on mineral balance, and therefore reduces the percentage of cracked eggs by improving eggshell thickness and egg shell breaking strength in aged laying hens.
___
- TSE: Hayvan Yemleri Metabolik Enerji Tayini. Türk Standartları Enstitüsü. TS9610. Ankara, 1991.
- Balnave, D., Muheereza, S.K.: Improving eggshell quality at high temperatures with dietary sodium bicarbonate. Poult Sci., 1997; 76: 588-593.
- Wells, R.G.: A study of the hen’s egg. In: Carter, T.C. Ed., British Egg Marketing Board Symposium , Edinburgh. 1968; 207-249.
- Snedecor, G.W., Cochran, W.G.: Statistical Methods, 7th edn., The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA. 1980.
- Duncan, D.B.: Multiple range and multiple F-tests. Biometrics, 1955; 11: 1-42.
- Eren, M., Uyanık, F., Küçükersan, S.: The influence of dietary boron supplementation on egg quality and serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in laying hens. Res. Vet. Sci., 2004; 76: 203-210.
- Rossi, A.F., Bootwalla, S.M., Miles, R.D.: Boron and riboflavin addition to broiler diets. Poult. Sci., 1990; 69 (Suppl.1): 186.
- Rossi, A.F., Miles, R.D., Damron, B.L., Flunker, L.K.: Effects of dietary boron supplementation on broilers. Poult. Sci., 1993; 72: 2124- 2130.
- Kurtoğlu, V., Kurtoğlu, F., Coşkun, B., Şeker, E., Balevi, T., Çetingül, I.S.: Effects of boron supplementation on performance and some serum biochemical parameters in laying hens. Rev. Méd. Vét., 2002; 153: 823-828.
- Wilson, J.H., Ruszler, P.L.: Effects of dietary boron on poultry bone strength. Trans. Am. Soc. Agri. Engin., 1995; 38: 167-170.
- Kurtoğlu, V., Kurtoğlu, F., Coşkun, B.: Effects of boron supplementation of adequate and inadequate vitamin D3- containing diet on performance and serum biochemical characters of broiler chickens. Res.Vet. Sci.. 2001; 71: 183-187.
- Elliot, M.A., Edwards, H.M. Jr.: Studies to determine whether an interaction exists among boron, calcium and cholecalciferol on the skeletal development of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 1992; 71: 677-690.
- Brown, T.F., McCormick, M.E., Morris, D.R., Zeringue, L.K.: Effects of dietary boron on mineral balance in sheep. Nutr. Res, 1989; 9: 503-512. 26.43 ± 0.33 - 5 5 b ** a-bThe mean values within the same row with different superscripts differ significantly ; -: not significant **: P < 0.01