Poultry Studies 2009, Vol 8, Num, 1     (Pages: 042-049)

Effects of Minerals on Egg Shell Quality

Zafer ATİK 1 ,Necmettin CEYLAN 2

1 Tavukçuluk Araştırma Enstitüsü – Ankara
2 Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Zootekni Bölümü – Ankara
- There are serious economic losses because of broken and cracked eggs in layer industry. Egg shell quality is based on nutrition. That`s why specifications of laying hen nutrition must be considered to obtain a proper egg shell quality In this collected the effects of laying hen nutrition taken into consideration. In this case, the function of macro and micro minerals in laying hens and their detailed mode of action for egg shell formation was examined and then some special recommendations was given to get less broken-cracked eggs. As a short summary it was concluded that Ca, Mn, Zn, Cu and Cr minerals are important factors for good quality egg shell formation. In addition the form of those minerals must also be considered. Keywords : Laying hens, nutrition, egg shell quality, Ca, Mn, Zn, Cu and Cr