Hatching Egg Shell Quality Measuring and How to Keep it

D. R. Korver
University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

LARA Technical Seminar November 28, 2012

Ivarie, 2003

Hen Bone Health & Eggshell Quality

Much more is known about laying hens than breeders
but many aspects of development are similar

Eggshell Formation
~5.5 g of eggshell per egg ~2.2 g of Ca Eggshell composition
95% CaCO3 0.3% P 0.3% Mg

Eggshell Formation
First phase
First ~5 hours of calcification
Ca crystals begin to form

Second phase
Next 12 hours of calcification 90% of Ca deposition 180-200 mg Ca/hour

Eggshell Formation
Egg size increases with hen age (body weight) Shell deposition remains constant

Eggshell Formation
Factors reducing eggshell quality
Age Nutrient deficiencies/imbalances Disease Management Water quality Stress Environmental temperature

Poor Eggshell Quality

Consequences
Broken eggs Increased risk of contamination
Exploders

Increased moisture loss during storage, incubation

Weaker chicks

http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/community/showthread.php

Shell Quality
Visual assessment
Cracks Breaks Etc.

Denver Post

Difficult to do in large-scale operations

Shell Quality Measurement

Basic assumption
Shell thickness = shell quality
Shell weight

Direct measurements
Shell weight Shell thickness

Indirect Measurement
Specific gravity

Indirect Measurement
Specific gravity

Unuma et al., 2005

Specific Gravity

Bennett, C. and B. Goodhope, 1999. Specific Gravity: An easy and Inexpensive Test of Shell Quality. Unpublished.

 High SG eggs from older breeders hatch as well as eggs from young breeders
Roque, L., and M. C. Soares, 1994

Bramwell, 2009

Egg Specific Gravity

Allow eggs to reach a constant temperature
Same temperature as SG solutions Consistency in egg handling is essential
Length of storage Storage temperature Storage humidity

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/ag_ICS/CBON/125162224689 9

Eggshell Color
Increase in egg size with no change in amount of pigment deposited
Lohmann Brown laying hens
Odabasi et al., 2007

Shell Color
Within hen variation vs across flock variation
Large genetic component

N. Joseph & F. Robinson

Shell Color

Moyle, Yoho and Bramwell, 2008

Shell Color
Turkey eggs
Color had little to no correlation with hatchability

Nadeau, Eisenbart & Robinson

High-tech Solutions
Mechanical testing
Shell elasticity

Computer imaging
Neural networks

Solutions to Quality Problems

Experimental Design
17 18 20 18 wks 20 wks 22 wks 24 wks 22 24 26 28 30 31

1.00 % Ca (grower) 3.25 % Ca (breeder)

Petruk & Korver, Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84:411-420

26 wks

Shell Weight
6 5 Shell Wt (g) 4 3 2 1 0
P<0.0008

ab ab

18 20 22 24 26
18 C

18 20 22 24 26
28 C

Petruk & Korver, Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84:411-420

1.085

Specific Gravity

Specific Gravity

1.083

1.080 1.078

1.075
P<0.0605

18 20 22 24 26
18 C

18 20 22 24 26
28 C

Petruk & Korver, Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84:411-420

Diet Management
Time of switch to high Ca diet is important in broiler breeders
Especially at high temperatures

Laying hens seem to be less sensitive to early switch

Effect of high temperature?

Diet Management
Ca level; Ca-P ratio
Change with age

Vitamin D
Reduced metabolism with hen age

NaCl feed, water

High NaCl reduces shell quality

Phytate
Binds Ca, P

Diet Management
Feed particle size
large particle calcium sources
2/3 large particle (> 1mm; larger is better)
Retained in gizzard

1/3 small particle (<1 mm)

Quickly available

Scatter-feed oystershell in litter

5 g per bird, 3 times per week

Diet Management
Phytase Vitamin C Trace Minerals
Organic vs inorganic?

Vitamin D3
25-OH Vitamin D3

Diet Management
Fat quality & duodenal calcium uptake
75

a
54.2

nmol/g/min

50

b
31.7

25

0 Canola Oil Oxidized Oil

- Feed/fat quality can affect the condition of the surface of the gut and the ability to absorb nutrients
R. Renema

Hen Management
Body weight at placement
Small pullets may lack sufficient medullary bone

Pre-breeder or not pre-breeder?

Not before 10-14 days prior to first egg

Switch to high Ca breeder diet

~5% production

Hen Management
Environmental temperature
Minimize heat stress

Electrolyte balance
Panting causes a loss of CO2 Blood pH increases from 7.2 to 7.5-7.7
Loss of bicarbonate ions limits CaCO3
Limits shell formation

Hen Management
Heat Stress Electrolyte balance
Panting causes a loss of CO2
Replace 30-35% of NaCl with NaHCO3

Hen Management
Possible solutions to low calcium status:
water supplementation of calcium

Conclusions
Broiler breeders tend to be somewhat resistant to shell quality problems as compared to laying hens Important consequences of poor shell quality Practical solutions can be used to prevent & correct problems

Questions?