The relationship of serum calcium to shell weight and other criteria in hens laying a low or high incidence of shell-less eggs. 1981

R Lennards, and D A Roland, and J A McGuire

Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship of serum calcium to shell weight and other criteria. Blood samples for calcium analysis were taken at oviposition in Experiments 1 and 2 from hens fed a 3.5% calcium diet. In Experiment 3, blood was taken at various intervals from hens laying a high or low incidence of shell-less eggs. These hens were fed a control diet or various calcium-deficient diets throughout a 45-day period. No relationship was found between serum calcium and shell weight, or egg weight. Hens laying a high incidence of shell-less eggs showed no decrease in serum calcium or egg production when fed a .58, .25, or .07% calcium diet. However, these criteria were reduced in hens laying a low incidence of shell-less eggs. It was concluded that the normal variation in serum calcium is not related to the hen's ability to produce eggshell. The mechanism of action responsible for cessation of lay when control hens were fed a calcium-deficient diet appeared not to function as it does in hens laying a high incidence of shell-less eggs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002645 Chickens Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA. Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D004528 Egg Shell A hard or leathery calciferous exterior covering of an egg. Eggshell,Egg Shells,Eggshells,Shell, Egg,Shells, Egg
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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