Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition

This study compared the effects of different calcium (Ca) sources, including limestone (LS), cockle shell (CS), oyster shell (OS), and eggshell (ES) powder, on the growth performance, meat quality, organ and intestinal characteristics, blood parameters, and tibial characteristics of broilers. A tota...

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Main Authors: Ah-Ran Lee, Woo-Do Lee, Kyung-Il Kim, Seung-Gyu Moon, Eun-Jip Kim, Soo-Ki Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2529957
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author Ah-Ran Lee
Woo-Do Lee
Kyung-Il Kim
Seung-Gyu Moon
Eun-Jip Kim
Soo-Ki Kim
author_facet Ah-Ran Lee
Woo-Do Lee
Kyung-Il Kim
Seung-Gyu Moon
Eun-Jip Kim
Soo-Ki Kim
author_sort Ah-Ran Lee
collection DOAJ
description This study compared the effects of different calcium (Ca) sources, including limestone (LS), cockle shell (CS), oyster shell (OS), and eggshell (ES) powder, on the growth performance, meat quality, organ and intestinal characteristics, blood parameters, and tibial characteristics of broilers. A total of 800 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (LS, CS, OS, ES), with five replicate pens per treatment and 40 chicks per pen for a duration of 4 weeks. ES supplementation exhibited no significant differences in growth performance, organ attributes, and intestinal characteristics. ES treatment slightly reduced thigh meat redness (a*) (p < 0.01). The spleen weight showed increasing trends in the LS and ES groups (p = 0.06). Additionally, the duodenal length in the OS group was shorter than that in the LS group, whereas the caecal length in the CS group was shorter than that in the LS and ES groups (p < 0.05). Blood creatinine levels were lower in the CS, OS, and ES groups than those in the LS group (p < 0.05). ES supplementation tended to increase tibial bone mineral density (p = 0.067). These findings suggest that ES supplementation has no adverse effects and may provide benefit bone and blood health. As a safe and viable alternative calcium source to limestone (LS) in broiler diets, eggshell (ES) holds potential to enhance environmental sustainability through the repurposing of waste materials.
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issn 1594-4077
1828-051X
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Italian Journal of Animal Science
spelling doaj-art-ca1df48bb5a04020be9e7421e10acc5b2025-08-20T04:02:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2025-12-012411489149810.1080/1828051X.2025.25299572529957Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutritionAh-Ran Lee0Woo-Do Lee1Kyung-Il Kim2Seung-Gyu Moon3Eun-Jip Kim4Soo-Ki Kim5Animal Resources Research Centre, Konkuk UniversityAnimal Welfare Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDADepartment of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk UniversityDepartment of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk UniversityDivision of Animal Husbandry, Yonam CollegeDepartment of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk UniversityThis study compared the effects of different calcium (Ca) sources, including limestone (LS), cockle shell (CS), oyster shell (OS), and eggshell (ES) powder, on the growth performance, meat quality, organ and intestinal characteristics, blood parameters, and tibial characteristics of broilers. A total of 800 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (LS, CS, OS, ES), with five replicate pens per treatment and 40 chicks per pen for a duration of 4 weeks. ES supplementation exhibited no significant differences in growth performance, organ attributes, and intestinal characteristics. ES treatment slightly reduced thigh meat redness (a*) (p < 0.01). The spleen weight showed increasing trends in the LS and ES groups (p = 0.06). Additionally, the duodenal length in the OS group was shorter than that in the LS group, whereas the caecal length in the CS group was shorter than that in the LS and ES groups (p < 0.05). Blood creatinine levels were lower in the CS, OS, and ES groups than those in the LS group (p < 0.05). ES supplementation tended to increase tibial bone mineral density (p = 0.067). These findings suggest that ES supplementation has no adverse effects and may provide benefit bone and blood health. As a safe and viable alternative calcium source to limestone (LS) in broiler diets, eggshell (ES) holds potential to enhance environmental sustainability through the repurposing of waste materials.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2529957broilerscalciumeggshellhealthperformance
spellingShingle Ah-Ran Lee
Woo-Do Lee
Kyung-Il Kim
Seung-Gyu Moon
Eun-Jip Kim
Soo-Ki Kim
Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
Italian Journal of Animal Science
broilers
calcium
eggshell
health
performance
title Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
title_full Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
title_fullStr Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
title_full_unstemmed Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
title_short Eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
title_sort eggshell as an alternative calcium source to conventional sources in broiler nutrition
topic broilers
calcium
eggshell
health
performance
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2529957
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AT kyungilkim eggshellasanalternativecalciumsourcetoconventionalsourcesinbroilernutrition
AT seunggyumoon eggshellasanalternativecalciumsourcetoconventionalsourcesinbroilernutrition
AT eunjipkim eggshellasanalternativecalciumsourcetoconventionalsourcesinbroilernutrition
AT sookikim eggshellasanalternativecalciumsourcetoconventionalsourcesinbroilernutrition