Egg production
Effect of ProPhorce™ SR on eggshell and cuticle quality of old broiler breeders
Report Research and Development (Field trial, Spain 2015)
Introduction
Day old chick quality is getting more relevant as long as broiler’s performance potential keeps increasing. Bacteria load reduction in day old chicks will result in healthier birds, lower mortality and incidence of infections typically in the first week of bird live.
Bacteria contamination in day old chicks is closely related to egg shell quality. In fact, the egg shell is a barrier to microorganism that prevents them to pass into the egg. As breeders are getting old, egg shell is losing this barrier capacity due to weaker egg shell and thinner cuticle.
Previous trials have shown ProPhorce™ SR positive effect with regard to egg shell quality.
Objective
The objective of this trial ran by Cobb Española and Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (Spain) has been to verify positive effects on egg shell and cuticle quality. This time new microscopy techniques have been used.
Material and Methods
The trial had been conducted in a broiler breeder farm with 2 twin barns populated with 3300 birds each. All birds are from same origin and same age. The trial started as flocks reached 50 weeks of age. Birds in barn A received ProPhorce™ SR, 1 kg/1000 litter drinking water for 30 days, while birds on barn B did not receive any treatment.
After treatment egg shell and cuticle quality and microbiological parameter were measured.
Parameters measured on egg shell: Specific gravity, SWUSA index, cuticle quality (Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Pore counts and pore size (Methylene blue and Transmission Electron Microscopy).
Microbial load: UFC in egg shell surface, in external and internal egg membrane, and in 1 and 7 day old chicks.
Results
Results on egg shell quality:
|
|
n |
Building A ProPhorce™ SR |
Building B Control |
p |
|
SWUSA index |
50 |
0.074 mg/cm2 |
0.074 mg/cm2 |
|
|
Nº of pores (M. blue) |
20 |
443 pores/cm2 |
353 pores/cm2 |
|
|
Large pores (M. blue) |
20 |
6.2% |
16.6% |
0,059 |
|
Nº of pores (TEM) |
20 |
19 pores/mm2 |
24 pores/mm2 |
|
|
Large pores (TEM) |
20 |
10.6% |
41.9% |
0,010 |
Results on egg cuticle (ATR-FTIE):
|
|
n |
Building A ProPhorce™ SR |
Building B Control |
P |
|
OH % |
50 |
0.67 |
0.60 |
0.224 |
|
Amides to CO3 |
50 |
1.87 |
1.26 |
<0.001 |
|
Amides 1 % |
50 |
0.26 |
0.21 |
0.001 |
|
Amides 2 % |
50 |
0.16 |
0.14 |
0.022 |
|
CO3 % |
50 |
0.17 |
0.19 |
0.001 |
|
Sugars % |
50 |
0.13 |
0.15 |
0.512 |
|
Thickness (μm) |
50 |
0.34 |
0.322 |
0.015 |
Remarks:
OH%: Moisture on the egg’s surface. It is an indirect indicator for shell porosity.
Total protein (Amides 1 and 2): Main component in a healthy cuticle.
CO3: Carbonate in the cuticle. The relevant data is the Amides to CO3 ratio, to that regard, the higher result, the better.
Sugars: Just as Amides sugars are part of the egg protection system against bacteria contamination.
Thickness: Cuticle thickness. The higher results, the better.
Other items studied showed no consistent differences among groups.
Discussion
Results are consistent with the ones in the first trial with respect to egg shell quality: Significant reduction in the number of large pores, and thicker egg shell that is consistent with the mode of action of butyric acid since it is improving intestinal mucosa status, thus absorption capacity for nutrients such as Ca.
The cuticle study has been based in modern techniques that consistent with results in the first study: thicker and richer cuticle has been observed in treated birds. The cuticle is not only a physical barrier to pathogens as it also has antimicrobial activity itself.
ProPhorce™ SR has proved to have a positive effect on eggshell quality when supplied to layer flocks over 50 weeks of life.