Dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate improves calcium absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during peak production

• Published in: British poultry science Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 740 - 747
• Main Authors: Jiang, M.J, Zhao, J.P, Jiao, H.C, Wang, X.J, Zhang, Q, Lin, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.11.2015
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; calcification; calcium; Calcium - metabolism; Chickens - physiology; Diet - veterinary; dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - analysis; egg production; egg shell; Egg Shell - physiology; egg shell thickness; egg weight; eggs; Female; intestines; kidneys; laying hens; lighting; Ovum - chemistry; secretion; shell gland; sodium bicarbonate; Sodium Bicarbonate - administration & dosage; Sodium Bicarbonate - metabolism
• ISSN: 1466-1799; 0007-1668; 1466-1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2015.1113499

The advantage of supplemental sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO ₃) on eggshell quality in laying hens changes with age. Besides increasing calcium (Ca) secretion in the eggshell gland, it may improve Ca absorption in the intestine or kidney. Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 384), 25 weeks of age, were allocated to two treatment groups in two experiments, each of which included 4 replicates of 24 hens. Hens were fed a basal diet (control) or the basal diet containing 3 g NaHCO ₃ g/kg for 50 or 20 weeks in Experiment 1 or 2, respectively. A 24-h continuous lighting regimen was used to allow hens to consume the dietary supplements during the period of active eggshell formation. In Experiment 1, particularly from 25 to 50 weeks of age, and in Experiment 2, NaHCO ₃ supplementation favoured hen-d egg production at the expense of lower egg weight. The increased eggshell thickness should have nothing to do with the additional eggshell formation, because of the unchanged egg mass and daily eggshell calcification. At 35 weeks of age in both experiments, NaHCO ₃ supplementation increased duodenal expression of calbindin-d28k (CaBP-D28k) protein, contributing to higher Ca retention and balance. From 50 to 75 weeks of age in Experiment 1, the hens had little response to NaHCO ₃ supplementation and showed a negative trend on eggshell thickness and strength. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with 3 g NaHCO ₃ g/kg improves Ca absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during the peak but not late production period, with the introduction of continuous lighting.