Effect of vitamin C on bone mineral density and eggshell characteristics of laying hens at the peak of egg production

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران

Article 11, Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 3, March 2010   

Document Type: Scientific - Research Articles

DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.v2i1.3110

Authors

Masoud Mohammad Hossein Rahmati^{* 1}; ali asgar Saki,²; amer Eskandarlou³; pooya Zamani³

¹Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Bo Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

²Ferdwosi University of Mashhad

³Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

The aim of current study was to determine the effects of vitamin C on bone mineral density (in terms of osteoporosis),
eggshell quality and investigation of correlation between these factors in laying hens reared under normal condition. One
hundred and ninety two 24 - weeks - old laying hens diet was supplemented with 4 levels of vitamin C (0, 250, 500 and 750
mg/kg diet). The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD). Egg production, metatarsus bone mineral density
(BMD) index and correlation coefficient between BMD index and some eggshell characteristics were determined. Egg
weight, egg mass, hen-day egg production and eggshell quality (shell thickness, shell weight and shell percentage) were not
influenced by vitamin C (p>0.05). The BMD index of metatarsus also did not change by vitamin C utilization at 38-weeksold
(p>0.05). No significant correlation was found between BMD index and shell characteristics (p>0.05). However, positive
correlation was observed between BMD index and egg weight also between BMD index and hen-day egg production
(p

Keywords

Bone mineral density; Eggshell characteristics; Vitamin C 1