What to Do About the High Egg Breakage Rate in Hot Weather

The problem of egg breakage has always plagued every @#@230@#@ farm, especially in hot weather, when high temperatures shorten the storage time of eggs, and broken and contaminated eggs spoil within 2 days and cannot be @#@136@#@. Therefore, here are several methods for reducing the breakage rate in hot weather:

Environment and temperature

The physiological characteristics of chickens determine that the ideal temperature for laying hens is 18°C-23°C, within which production performance is best; when the temperature exceeds 30°C, laying hens eat less, drink more water, and produce more droppings; when the house temperature exceeds 32°C, the laying rate drops significantly, and in severe cases it can lead to heat stress. To keep laying hens highly productive in hot weather and reduce the egg breakage rate, the environment must be well controlled.

Control the temperature and humidity inside the house well, and increase eggshell hardness. High temperatures can reduce the feed intake of laying hens and also affect the deposition of calcium salts, thereby lowering eggshell quality and increasing the number of wrinkled eggs. In a high-temperature environment, you can place ice blocks in the chicken house, use a wet curtain, or spray with cold water to lower the temperature; eggshell hardness is also related to humidity. The higher the humidity, the lower the eggshell hardness, and the higher the egg breakage.

Install ventilation machinery to keep the chicken house well ventilated with no dead corners. In a high-temperature environment, laying hens breathe more actively and exhale more carbon dioxide, which on the one hand causes respiratory alkalosis, and on the other hand reduces calcium carbonate in the blood, leading to weakened secretion by the shell gland and reduced calcium carbonate deposition. The eggshell cannot be fully formed, so the eggshell becomes thinner and its strength decreases.

Reduce various stresses and noise. Adding various vitamins can reduce heat stress, especially Vc, which can promote the metabolism of minerals in the bones and increase the plasma calcium concentration. If 200-400 mg of Vc is added per kg of feed in the diet of laying hens, it can relieve heat stress, increase feed intake, and increase the utilization of Ca in the bones, significantly increasing the laying rate, increasing egg hardness, and reducing the breakage rate.

Improve feed nutrition

Because under high-temperature stress conditions, the feed intake of laying hens decreases and the laying rate drops, it is very important to improve the nutritional conditions in the feed and maintain the body heat balance of the chickens.

Strictly formulate the feed formula according to the feeding standards for laying hens. The main factors affecting eggshell quality are the contents of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin D3. First, attention should be paid to the calcium content in the laying feed, which affects eggshell thickness, strength, weight, and eggshell calcium content. As the dietary calcium level increases, eggshell thickness, strength, and weight all increase in a curved pattern, and all reach their maximum when the calcium level in the feed reaches 4.0%. Eggshell thickness, hardness, and weight are sensitive indicators for evaluating the calcium nutritional requirements of laying hens. For laying hens in the laying stage from 20-40 weeks of age, the dietary calcium level should preferably be 3.3%-4% (daily calcium intake of 4.18 grams). However, when considering the Ca requirement of laying hens, the protein content in the diet should also be considered. Second, the available phosphorus content in the feed should be ensured. Although eggshells contain relatively little phosphorus (about 20 mg), it determines the elasticity and toughness of the eggshell. Phosphorus in feed mainly exists in the form of phytate phosphorus, and only about 30% can be absorbed and utilized. It is usually required that the available phosphorus content in the diet should reach about 0.4%. In addition to considering available phosphorus, an inappropriate Ca to P ratio should also be considered, as it affects the absorption and utilization of Ca and P by chickens. Generally, in laying hen feed, total phosphorus is 0.6%, available phosphorus is 0.5%, available phosphorus is 80%-90% of total phosphorus, and the Ca to P ratio is between 4:1-6:1. An appropriate amount of VD3 and Mn should be added. VD3 promotes the intestinal absorption of Ca and P and increases the levels of Ca and P in the blood, generally added at 0.1%-0.15%. Studies have shown that replacing inorganic phosphorus in feed with phytase can significantly improve eggshell quality and reduce the broken egg rate. Adding 55 grams-60 grams of manganese per ton of feed can not only meet the requirement but also give the best eggshell quality in older hens.

The Ca source added to the diet of laying hens should have a certain particle size, and its solubility should be noted. Eggshells generally begin to be deposited at dusk. Providing hens separately in the afternoon with soluble powder particles such as limestone particles can allow the supplemented Ca to be directly used during eggshell formation and thereby improve eggshell quality.

Adding a certain proportion of NaHCO3 can significantly improve eggshell quality. The hydrogen phosphate ions in the blood are the main source of calcium phosphate in eggshell formation. Research has shown that adding different levels of NaHCO3 at 0.1%-1.0% continuously to laying hen feed for 8 months resulted in an increase in the laying rate in all NaHCO3-added groups, and eggshell strength could increase by 8%.

Feeding management

Prevent flock panic and avoid stress. Fix the work routine: turning on lights, feeding, watering, manure cleaning, scrubbing, and disinfection should be carried out at fixed times to prevent disrupting the "biological clock" and prevent flock panic. All work should be done carefully, avoiding rough handling, noise, and disturbance, reducing the number of times chickens are caught, and increasing the midday rest time.

Keep clean water adequate and clean to relieve heat stress.

Appropriately increase the number of egg collections. The peak laying period of chickens is within 3 hours-4 hours after sunrise, and afternoon egg production accounts for only 20%-30% of the whole day's total, so eggs should be collected at least 2 times in the morning and 1 time in the afternoon to effectively reduce the number of broken eggs.

When transporting, place them separately and handle them gently, preferably using egg trays.

In short, reducing the occurrence of broken eggs is an important part of improving economic benefits in summer. As long as attention is paid to every small detail, the breakage rate will certainly be reduced to the minimum.