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Effect of Calcium from Different Sources on the Growth and Egg Production of Poultry
E F F E C T OF CALCIUM FROM D I F F E R E N T SOURCES ON THE GROWTH AND EGG PRODUCTION OF POULTRY O. N. MASSENGALE AND C. S. PLATT (From the Department of Poultry, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick, N. J.
* Journal Series paper of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Departmnt of Poultry Husbandry.
240
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(Received for Publication 12-13-29) It is a well known fact that calcium in some form must be added to poultry rations in order to obtain the necessary amount of this element for optium egg production. Buckner and Martin 1 have pointed out that the lack of the supply of calcium results in a decrease of egg production and finally a cessation. All investigators are agreed as to the need of supplementing the average poultry ration with an ample supply of calcium in order that the producing bird may have an ample supply of this element for egg shell formation. The question arises as to the best available form of calcium to add to a ration for the laying bird. Buckner, Martin, Pierce and Peter 2 report that the hen can utilize calcium carbonate to a greater extent than tri calcium phosphate for egg production. Oyster shell and limestone were the forms of calcium carbonate used. Later, Buckner 3 and his co-workers reported that calcium carbonate is better utilized for egg production than either tri calcium phosphate, calcium lactate, calcium sulfate or calcium chloride. Recently Russell and McDonald4 reported that there is excellent evidence that calcium citrate can be utilized for egg formation as well as calcium carbonate. There has been comparatively little attention given to the availability of different sources of calcium for egg formation and from the work already reported, it is impossible to come to any definite conchtsions. The plan of the work reported herein, was to take day old chicks and start them on diets containing different sources of calcium and allow the birds to remain on these rations, through several weeks of egg production. We feelthat this gives us a better knowledge of the utilization of the different calcium
SOURCES OF CALCIUM
241
compounds, since the nutritional history of the bird is known and controlled from the time of hatching. EXPERIMENTAL
* The limestone used in this experiment is known as calcite. This material is a crystalline form of calcium carbonate. It is put on the market by The Limestone Products Corporation of America, Newton, N. J.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
Five groups of 50 each, day old chicks, were selected and placed on the following basal diet: 10 parts pinhead oats 10 parts wheat bran 10 parts red dog flour 5 parts casein 5 parts meato 57 parts yellow corn meal 1 part salt 2 parts: cod liver oil The basal diet was supplemented as follows: Lot I.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of oyster shell. Lot II.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of limestone.* Lot III.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of C. P. Calcium carbonate. Lot IV.— Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of precipitated tri calcium phosphate. Lot V.—Rec'eived basal ration with no calcium supplement. The analysis of the basal ration showed approximately 0.2% calcium. The amount of C. P . calcium carbonate and precipitated Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 added to the rations was constant throughout the experiment but due to the slight variation of calcium content of the oyster shell and limestone, there was a slight variation as to the amount of these materials added, because we desired to keep the amount of added calcium constant. The amount of these materials added was equivalent to 4.0 to 4.5 per cent of the diet. Fresh tap water was given to drink. The birds were kept in pens in the basement of the Poultry Building of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The birds in lot V or those receiving no addition of calcium developed a severe case of leg weakness during the 8th week and several died. At the beginning of the 10th week 2% lime-
242
POULTRY SCIENCE
TABUE I. AVEKAGE WEIGHT OF BIRDS AT 20 WEEKS
Lot I 1320 grams Lot II 1350 grams Lot III 1150 grams Lot IV 1295 grams Lot V 1010 grams It is admitted that the birds in none of the groups reached optimum weight but this is probably due to the fact that the birds were raised in very close confinement. TAKE I I . Lot
Lot I. Oyster shell supplement Lot II. Limestone (calcite) Lot III. C. P. CaC0 3 ( a m o r p h o u s ) Lot IV. Precipitated Ca 3 (Po 4 ), Lot V. No m i n e r a l supplement
Avg. No. Ayg. wt. eggs per bird per egg gms.
Avg. shell texture
% of egg, shell
20.8
45.75
3.60
9.24
17.7
47.69
3.16
9.26
5.5
47.75
3.15
8.05
14.1
44.0
3.33
9.30
0.5
44.9
3.0
8.60
Table II. gives the average number of eggs laid per bird in each group. In addition it gives the average weight per egg, average texture of shell and average per cent of shell.
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stone was added and this disturbance disappeared. This supplement of limestone to lot V was continued until the birds were 18 weeks of age. When the birds were 10 weeks old, the cockerels were removed. At the end of the 18th week, ten pullets in each lot, were selected from those that remained in the respective lots. They were selected according to weight, that is, the 10 largest from each group were chosen. These birds that were selected were allowed to remain on their respective rations and were used to ascertain egg production, percentage egg shell, shell texture and weight of egg produced. Trap nest records were kept in order to ascertain the individual variations of each lot. The egg records were kept until the birds were 33 weeks old. The following table gives the average weight of the 10 pullets in each group, at 20 weeks of age:
SOURCES
OF
CALCIUM
243
DISCUSSION
The birds in lots I and II or those receiving oyster shell and limestone, were larger than any of the five groups. The birds in lot IV or those receiving precipitated tri calcium phosphate were slightly smaller than those of lots I and II. It is interesting to note that ,the pullets in lot I I I or those receiving C. P. CaC0 3 were appreciably smaller than those receiving oyster shell and limestone. It was also noticed that the birds in lot I I I did not have as healthy an appearance, being droopy and more sluggish. The differences in growth and appearance of the birds in lots I and II from those of lot III may be explained as follows: The Limestone used is practically all crystalline and oyster shell is from 10-15% crystalline, whereas the C. P. CaC0 3 used is an amorophous form of CaC0 3 . In addition, the oyster shell and limestone are not pure compounds of CaC0 3 but contain certain other elements as impurities, some elements in very small amounts, it is true, whereas C. P. CaC0 3 does not contain impurities. Therefore it is logical to conclude that either of these reasons or a combination of both may offer a solution as to why birds on oyster shell and limestone were larger. On the other hand, precipitated Ca3 ( P 0 4 ) 2 gained almost as much as those on the oyster shell and limestone. We do not believe it is the addition of phosphorus because oyster and limestone contain no appreciable amounts of this element. It may be that the combination of calcium and phosphorus is more easily utilized by the growing bird than C. P. CaC0 3 . The birds receiving no calcium supplement did not grow to any appreciable extent as compared with lots 1 and II. There is no
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
The texture of the shell was taken to mean the number of air spots in the shell. This could be determined by candling. In most cases the texture of the shell was determined 24 hours after the egg was laid. Number 1 texture means that there were practically no air spots in the shell, whereas Number 5 means the shell is covered with these spots. After the egg was weighed, it was broken, shell carefully removed, washed with distilled water, placed in drying oven at 85° for at least 12 hours and then weighed. The per.cent shell is calculated on the basis of the weight of the egg 24 hours after it was laid.
244
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SCIENCE
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doubt if limestone or some other form of calcium had not been added all of the birds would have died from a calcium deficiency. When we take into consideration the egg production of the pullets, it must be remembered that the experiment was only conducted until the birds were approximately 33 weeks of age. The birds on the shell and limestone group started laying approximately the 24th week. Those on Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 approximately the 25th week, whereas those on the C. P. CaC0 3 not until the 27th week. From our trap nest records, by the end of the 33rd week, all of the birds in the lots receiving oyster shell, limestone, and Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 had produced eggs, whereas those in the lot receiving C. P. CaC0 3 only three of these birds produced. The birds in lot V or those receiving no calcium supplement only laid a few eggs. This was to be expected, since some form of calcium is needed for egg production and in the diet of this lot of birds there was a decided deficiency. There is a noticeable difference in the number of eggs produced by the birds in the different lots receiving a calcium supplement. The difference in average number of eggs produced per bird in lots I and II is due to one bird in lot I which was a very high producer. Not considering this bird's egg production, the average number of eggs produced by each bird in lots I and II was approximately the same. The average number of eggs produced per bird in the lots receiving oyster shell and limestone was greater than that of the group receiving C. P. CaC0 3 . This is very outstanding. It would seem that from the standpoint of growth and egg production that C. P. CaC0 3 or possibly an amorphous form of CaC0 3 could not be utilized to a very great extent. On the other hand, the average number of eggs produced by the group of birds receiving Ca 3 (PO) 4 was not equaled to those of lots I and II. It would seem from this data that laying birds do not require an addition of phosphorus to a regular poultry ration. The amount of phosphorus in the basal ration used was aproximately 0.5%, which seems to be ample since the addition of phosphorus did not seem to increase egg production, when compared to the lots receiving oyster shell and limestone. It is also interesting to note that when certain calcium com-
SOURCES'OF
CALCIUM
245
SUMMARY
I. Birds receiving C. P. CaC0 3 as a source of calcium in a diet deficient in this element, did not grow as well or produce as many eggs as birds receiving CaC0 3 in the form of oyster shell or limestone. II. The percentage of shell of the eggs produced by birls receiving C. P. CaC0 3 was appreciably lower than the eggs produced by birds receiving CaC0 3 in the form of limestone or oyster shell. III. From the data presented it seems that CaC0 3 in the form of oyster shell or limestone is utilized better than precipitated Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 . On the other hand, evidence points to the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
pounds, such as, oyster shell and limestone are used, they seem to be a better calcium supplement for egg production than Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 . It is interesting to note, however, that the eggs produced by the birds receiving C. P. CaC0 3 were larger than any of the other groups, although they were approximately the same size as the eggs of the limestone group. The eggs produced by the birds in the limestone group were larger than those of the oyster shell group. In every case, birds receiving CaC0 3 produced larger eggs than those receiving Ca 3 (POJ 2 . As to the texture of the shell of the eggs of the different groups, there seems to be only a slight difference. The texture of the shell of the eggs laid by the birds of the oyster shell group were not quite as good as that of the other groups. One of the most outstanding results of this experiment is the percentage of shell of the eggs of the different groups. The percentage of shell of the eggs laid by the birds receiving oyster shell, limestone and Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 are approximately the same but are appreciably higher than those receiving C. P. CaC0 3 . From these results, one would conclude that an amorphous form or a C. P . CaC0 3 cannot be utilized to as great an extent for egg shell production as impure or crystalline form of CaC0 3 , or precipitated Ca 3 (POJ 2 . It was to be expected that since there was a deficiency in calcium in the diet of the birds in group V, that what few eggs that were produced would contain a low percentage of shell.
246
POULTRY
SCIENCE
BIBLIOGRAPHY i BUCKNER, G. D„ AND MARTIN, J. H., J. Biol. Chem., 41, 195 (1920). 2 BUCKNER, G. D., MARTIN, J. H., PIERCE, W. C , AND PETER, A. M., J .
Biol. Chem., 51, 51 (1922). 3 BUCKNER, G. D., MARTIN, J. H., AND PETER, A. M., J o u r . A g r i c . Re-
search 36, 263 (1928). * RUSSELL, W. C. AND MCDONALD, F . G., Jour. Biol. Chem., 84, 463 (1929).
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
fact that the latter can be utilized by birds better than C. P . CaC0 3 . IV. Birds receiving a highly crystalline form of limestone seem to give a slightly better texture of shell of the eggs laid than oyster shell. In addition birds receiving limestone laid heavier eggs than those receiving oyster shell. V. On the basal diet used, the birds developed leg weakness. On the addition of calcium in the form of limestone this disturbance disappeared. VI. The evidence presented here confirms the work of other investigators that a calcium supplement is necessary to poultry rations.
* Journal Series paper of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Departmnt of Poultry Husbandry.
240
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
(Received for Publication 12-13-29) It is a well known fact that calcium in some form must be added to poultry rations in order to obtain the necessary amount of this element for optium egg production. Buckner and Martin 1 have pointed out that the lack of the supply of calcium results in a decrease of egg production and finally a cessation. All investigators are agreed as to the need of supplementing the average poultry ration with an ample supply of calcium in order that the producing bird may have an ample supply of this element for egg shell formation. The question arises as to the best available form of calcium to add to a ration for the laying bird. Buckner, Martin, Pierce and Peter 2 report that the hen can utilize calcium carbonate to a greater extent than tri calcium phosphate for egg production. Oyster shell and limestone were the forms of calcium carbonate used. Later, Buckner 3 and his co-workers reported that calcium carbonate is better utilized for egg production than either tri calcium phosphate, calcium lactate, calcium sulfate or calcium chloride. Recently Russell and McDonald4 reported that there is excellent evidence that calcium citrate can be utilized for egg formation as well as calcium carbonate. There has been comparatively little attention given to the availability of different sources of calcium for egg formation and from the work already reported, it is impossible to come to any definite conchtsions. The plan of the work reported herein, was to take day old chicks and start them on diets containing different sources of calcium and allow the birds to remain on these rations, through several weeks of egg production. We feelthat this gives us a better knowledge of the utilization of the different calcium
SOURCES OF CALCIUM
241
compounds, since the nutritional history of the bird is known and controlled from the time of hatching. EXPERIMENTAL
* The limestone used in this experiment is known as calcite. This material is a crystalline form of calcium carbonate. It is put on the market by The Limestone Products Corporation of America, Newton, N. J.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
Five groups of 50 each, day old chicks, were selected and placed on the following basal diet: 10 parts pinhead oats 10 parts wheat bran 10 parts red dog flour 5 parts casein 5 parts meato 57 parts yellow corn meal 1 part salt 2 parts: cod liver oil The basal diet was supplemented as follows: Lot I.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of oyster shell. Lot II.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of limestone.* Lot III.—Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of C. P. Calcium carbonate. Lot IV.— Received basal ration plus 1.5% calcium in the form of precipitated tri calcium phosphate. Lot V.—Rec'eived basal ration with no calcium supplement. The analysis of the basal ration showed approximately 0.2% calcium. The amount of C. P . calcium carbonate and precipitated Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 added to the rations was constant throughout the experiment but due to the slight variation of calcium content of the oyster shell and limestone, there was a slight variation as to the amount of these materials added, because we desired to keep the amount of added calcium constant. The amount of these materials added was equivalent to 4.0 to 4.5 per cent of the diet. Fresh tap water was given to drink. The birds were kept in pens in the basement of the Poultry Building of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The birds in lot V or those receiving no addition of calcium developed a severe case of leg weakness during the 8th week and several died. At the beginning of the 10th week 2% lime-
242
POULTRY SCIENCE
TABUE I. AVEKAGE WEIGHT OF BIRDS AT 20 WEEKS
Lot I 1320 grams Lot II 1350 grams Lot III 1150 grams Lot IV 1295 grams Lot V 1010 grams It is admitted that the birds in none of the groups reached optimum weight but this is probably due to the fact that the birds were raised in very close confinement. TAKE I I . Lot
Lot I. Oyster shell supplement Lot II. Limestone (calcite) Lot III. C. P. CaC0 3 ( a m o r p h o u s ) Lot IV. Precipitated Ca 3 (Po 4 ), Lot V. No m i n e r a l supplement
Avg. No. Ayg. wt. eggs per bird per egg gms.
Avg. shell texture
% of egg, shell
20.8
45.75
3.60
9.24
17.7
47.69
3.16
9.26
5.5
47.75
3.15
8.05
14.1
44.0
3.33
9.30
0.5
44.9
3.0
8.60
Table II. gives the average number of eggs laid per bird in each group. In addition it gives the average weight per egg, average texture of shell and average per cent of shell.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
stone was added and this disturbance disappeared. This supplement of limestone to lot V was continued until the birds were 18 weeks of age. When the birds were 10 weeks old, the cockerels were removed. At the end of the 18th week, ten pullets in each lot, were selected from those that remained in the respective lots. They were selected according to weight, that is, the 10 largest from each group were chosen. These birds that were selected were allowed to remain on their respective rations and were used to ascertain egg production, percentage egg shell, shell texture and weight of egg produced. Trap nest records were kept in order to ascertain the individual variations of each lot. The egg records were kept until the birds were 33 weeks old. The following table gives the average weight of the 10 pullets in each group, at 20 weeks of age:
SOURCES
OF
CALCIUM
243
DISCUSSION
The birds in lots I and II or those receiving oyster shell and limestone, were larger than any of the five groups. The birds in lot IV or those receiving precipitated tri calcium phosphate were slightly smaller than those of lots I and II. It is interesting to note that ,the pullets in lot I I I or those receiving C. P. CaC0 3 were appreciably smaller than those receiving oyster shell and limestone. It was also noticed that the birds in lot I I I did not have as healthy an appearance, being droopy and more sluggish. The differences in growth and appearance of the birds in lots I and II from those of lot III may be explained as follows: The Limestone used is practically all crystalline and oyster shell is from 10-15% crystalline, whereas the C. P. CaC0 3 used is an amorophous form of CaC0 3 . In addition, the oyster shell and limestone are not pure compounds of CaC0 3 but contain certain other elements as impurities, some elements in very small amounts, it is true, whereas C. P. CaC0 3 does not contain impurities. Therefore it is logical to conclude that either of these reasons or a combination of both may offer a solution as to why birds on oyster shell and limestone were larger. On the other hand, precipitated Ca3 ( P 0 4 ) 2 gained almost as much as those on the oyster shell and limestone. We do not believe it is the addition of phosphorus because oyster and limestone contain no appreciable amounts of this element. It may be that the combination of calcium and phosphorus is more easily utilized by the growing bird than C. P. CaC0 3 . The birds receiving no calcium supplement did not grow to any appreciable extent as compared with lots 1 and II. There is no
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
The texture of the shell was taken to mean the number of air spots in the shell. This could be determined by candling. In most cases the texture of the shell was determined 24 hours after the egg was laid. Number 1 texture means that there were practically no air spots in the shell, whereas Number 5 means the shell is covered with these spots. After the egg was weighed, it was broken, shell carefully removed, washed with distilled water, placed in drying oven at 85° for at least 12 hours and then weighed. The per.cent shell is calculated on the basis of the weight of the egg 24 hours after it was laid.
244
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
doubt if limestone or some other form of calcium had not been added all of the birds would have died from a calcium deficiency. When we take into consideration the egg production of the pullets, it must be remembered that the experiment was only conducted until the birds were approximately 33 weeks of age. The birds on the shell and limestone group started laying approximately the 24th week. Those on Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 approximately the 25th week, whereas those on the C. P. CaC0 3 not until the 27th week. From our trap nest records, by the end of the 33rd week, all of the birds in the lots receiving oyster shell, limestone, and Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 had produced eggs, whereas those in the lot receiving C. P. CaC0 3 only three of these birds produced. The birds in lot V or those receiving no calcium supplement only laid a few eggs. This was to be expected, since some form of calcium is needed for egg production and in the diet of this lot of birds there was a decided deficiency. There is a noticeable difference in the number of eggs produced by the birds in the different lots receiving a calcium supplement. The difference in average number of eggs produced per bird in lots I and II is due to one bird in lot I which was a very high producer. Not considering this bird's egg production, the average number of eggs produced by each bird in lots I and II was approximately the same. The average number of eggs produced per bird in the lots receiving oyster shell and limestone was greater than that of the group receiving C. P. CaC0 3 . This is very outstanding. It would seem that from the standpoint of growth and egg production that C. P. CaC0 3 or possibly an amorphous form of CaC0 3 could not be utilized to a very great extent. On the other hand, the average number of eggs produced by the group of birds receiving Ca 3 (PO) 4 was not equaled to those of lots I and II. It would seem from this data that laying birds do not require an addition of phosphorus to a regular poultry ration. The amount of phosphorus in the basal ration used was aproximately 0.5%, which seems to be ample since the addition of phosphorus did not seem to increase egg production, when compared to the lots receiving oyster shell and limestone. It is also interesting to note that when certain calcium com-
SOURCES'OF
CALCIUM
245
SUMMARY
I. Birds receiving C. P. CaC0 3 as a source of calcium in a diet deficient in this element, did not grow as well or produce as many eggs as birds receiving CaC0 3 in the form of oyster shell or limestone. II. The percentage of shell of the eggs produced by birls receiving C. P. CaC0 3 was appreciably lower than the eggs produced by birds receiving CaC0 3 in the form of limestone or oyster shell. III. From the data presented it seems that CaC0 3 in the form of oyster shell or limestone is utilized better than precipitated Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 . On the other hand, evidence points to the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
pounds, such as, oyster shell and limestone are used, they seem to be a better calcium supplement for egg production than Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 . It is interesting to note, however, that the eggs produced by the birds receiving C. P. CaC0 3 were larger than any of the other groups, although they were approximately the same size as the eggs of the limestone group. The eggs produced by the birds in the limestone group were larger than those of the oyster shell group. In every case, birds receiving CaC0 3 produced larger eggs than those receiving Ca 3 (POJ 2 . As to the texture of the shell of the eggs of the different groups, there seems to be only a slight difference. The texture of the shell of the eggs laid by the birds of the oyster shell group were not quite as good as that of the other groups. One of the most outstanding results of this experiment is the percentage of shell of the eggs of the different groups. The percentage of shell of the eggs laid by the birds receiving oyster shell, limestone and Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 are approximately the same but are appreciably higher than those receiving C. P. CaC0 3 . From these results, one would conclude that an amorphous form or a C. P . CaC0 3 cannot be utilized to as great an extent for egg shell production as impure or crystalline form of CaC0 3 , or precipitated Ca 3 (POJ 2 . It was to be expected that since there was a deficiency in calcium in the diet of the birds in group V, that what few eggs that were produced would contain a low percentage of shell.
246
POULTRY
SCIENCE
BIBLIOGRAPHY i BUCKNER, G. D„ AND MARTIN, J. H., J. Biol. Chem., 41, 195 (1920). 2 BUCKNER, G. D., MARTIN, J. H., PIERCE, W. C , AND PETER, A. M., J .
Biol. Chem., 51, 51 (1922). 3 BUCKNER, G. D., MARTIN, J. H., AND PETER, A. M., J o u r . A g r i c . Re-
search 36, 263 (1928). * RUSSELL, W. C. AND MCDONALD, F . G., Jour. Biol. Chem., 84, 463 (1929).
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Acq (Law) on April 13, 2015
fact that the latter can be utilized by birds better than C. P . CaC0 3 . IV. Birds receiving a highly crystalline form of limestone seem to give a slightly better texture of shell of the eggs laid than oyster shell. In addition birds receiving limestone laid heavier eggs than those receiving oyster shell. V. On the basal diet used, the birds developed leg weakness. On the addition of calcium in the form of limestone this disturbance disappeared. VI. The evidence presented here confirms the work of other investigators that a calcium supplement is necessary to poultry rations.