producing a larger number of eggs, sometimes resulting in worse eggshell quality. In late lay the egg number is reduced and again, egg quality may drop. This happens for a number of different reasons, such as declining gut health and ability to absorb nutrients, as well as the fact that the birds needs to mobilize calcium from the bone to form eggs.” Research shows that with the aging hen, as egg size increases, eggshell thickness and mass decreases by close to 10%, resulting in more cracked eggs.
Supporting the bird In modern-day production it is essential to supplement trace minerals in feed in order to meet the birds’ requirements. This is why Trouw Nutrition has carried out extensive trial work focusing on the chemistry of trace mineral sources. “You want to help the bird as efficiently as possible, supple- menting to match the birds’ requirements, optimising input, to prevent excess output in faeces which can be harmful to the environment. It’s important to avoid undersupply, which can occur during a ‘stressful event’ such as the onset of lay, or a disease challenge when there will be an increase in the trace mineral requirement. However, oversupply can lead to toxicity and environmental waste. In short, there is more to trace mineral sources than previously thought, says Hibbert.
In daily practice, many producers utilise cheaper, more com- moditised trace mineral sources, such as sulphates and ox- ides. However, these sources are extremely reactive in feed and can have a negative impact on feed quality and offer minimal bio-availability. Hibbert explains: “We saw that the hydroxy trace minerals are absorbed most efficiently com- pared to the common inorganic sources, such as sulphates, which can easily solubilse in the feed and the GIT, binding to dietary antagonists, rendering them unavailable for absorp- tion in the small intestine. These insoluble complexes are ex- creted in the faeces resulting in wasted product, as well as higher excretion into the environment.” She concludes: “Our studies show that a superior source of zinc, copper and man- ganese can further improve egg production and reduce the number of cracked eggs. A highly bio-available trace mineral source can also mitigate the effects of heat stress on perfor- mance. The key is to utilise an improved trace mineral source to improve bio-availability, thereby optimising trace mineral levels in feed to match the birds’ requirements. This level may increase in times of stress throughout the production cycle, but has a clear economic upside when the perfor- mance benefits of switching sources are taken into account. The best farm-specific approach can be discovered with the help of our experts.”
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 3, 2021
To form the best egg possible, the hen needs the proverbial building blocks necessary to do so. That means presenting them those blocks on a silver platter, via the feed.
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