Effect of Alternative Calcium Sources on Performance and Eggshell Quality in Laying Hens

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different calcium sources addition to diets on performance and eggshell quality in laying hens. In the experiment, 72 laying hens (Super Nick-White) at 56 week of age were randomly assigned into 6 treatments groups. The experiment, different levels of limestone, oyster shell and egg shell were tested with 6 different diets with 12 replicates per treatments and 12 hens per experimental unit. Particle sizes of oyster shell and egg shell were between 2 to 5 mm. Different calcium sources addition to the laying hens diet were not significantly effect on egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg specific gravity, egg shell weight, egg shell thickness and egg shell breaking strength (P>0.05). Dietary different calcium sources were significantly effect on feed intake (P<0.05). The result of this study that oyster shell and egg shell to the laying hens diets can be used instead of the limestone as a source of calcium without adversely affecting performance and eggshell quality.