Poultry

Persistency of eggshell quality

The production period of laying hens is increasing. Therefore, it is important that laying persistency and good eggshell quality can keep up with the extended laying cycle.

Background on the challenge

Each egg contains about 2g of calcium (Ca) in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The Ca needed to form the eggshell is coming from feed (60 – 75 %) and the bone (40 – 25 %). With increasing age of the laying hen, the egg increases in size. As the amount of Ca deposited remains more or less constant over time, eggshell becomes thinner towards the end of the laying period. As Ca cannot be stored in the uterus, eggshell formation depends, among other factors, on sufficient amounts of available Ca in the blood during the period of eggshell formation, as well as on the proper function of Ca-metabolism.

With increasing age, Ca absorption in the gut is reduced, which is related to changes in the activity of enzymes involved in the conversion of vitamin D3 to its metabolically active form 1,25(OH)2D3, that plays a crucial role in Ca metabolism.

The implication for the industry

Good eggshell quality is important for profitable egg production, as undamaged first-class eggs generate a higher price than second-grade eggs. Due to genetic improvement, laying performance and laying persistency has increased in the last years. However, this improvement cannot be fully exploited if eggshell quality deteriorates. Therefore, it is important that the Ca requirement of the hen for the production of high-quality eggshells is met. This is of special importance with increasing age, as the pathways for Ca metabolism are compromised. Taking these changes into consideration helps the laying hen to fulfil its genetic potential.

Panbonis®
  • fast time to action

  • improves Ca-metabolism

  • maintains eggshell quality

Panbonis® is a complementary feed that contains a standardized level of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol-glycosides (1,25(OH)2D3-gly) from dried and ground Solanum glaucophyllum leaves. 1,25(OH)2D3-gly can only be absorbed after the sugar molecule is released from 1,25(OH)2D3 by specific enzymes that are present in the intestine. This is a gradual process, ensuring a slow release of the bioactive component. Once it is absorbed, it does not need additional activation steps, like vitamin D3 or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) do, which means that Panbonis® can directly support the animal even in periods when specific activation enzymes in liver and kidney are limited.

Supplementing a commercial layer diet with 100g/t of Panbonis® 10 supports the Ca-metabolism of the hen and thus helps to maintain good laying performance and eggshell quality throughout the whole laying cycle

  • Supports the crucial role of vitamin D3

  • 100% Natural

  • GMO-free

  • Standardized content of the active ingredient

  • Gradually absorbed from the intestine

  • Considered a complementary feed in the EU

  • High processing and storage stability

Mode of action

Vitamin D3 needs two conversion steps to become metabolically active. The first step happens in the liver, where vitamin D3 is converted to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3). 25(OH)D3 is the storage form of vitamin D3 and gives a good indication of the vitamin D3 status of the animal. The second activation step happens in the kidney, where the 25(OH) is converted into 1,25(OH)2D3. 1,25(OH)2D3 then interacts with the vitamin D3 receptor (VDR), which is – among others – located in the gut cells. There 1,25(OH)2D3 increases the expression of calbindin, a Ca-binding protein in the cell that transports the Ca from the gut to the blood. When providing Panbonis, which naturally contains 1,25(OH)2D3-gly, only the glycosides need to be cleaved by endogenous enzymes, and the free 1,25(OH)2D3 can be absorbed and is directly available at the site of Ca-absorption.

Poultry – Vitamin D Metabolism

Trial results

Treatments: Control vs 100g of Panbonis® 10/t feed (SG)

Animals: 2 x 150 Lohmann Brown (LB); 2 x 100 Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL)

Duration: 84 days, wk 76 - 87

Treatments: Control vs 100g of Panbonis® 10/t feed

Animals: 2 x 150 Lohmann Brown (LB)

Duration: wk 74 - 95

Our solution Panbonis®
  • fast time to action
  • improves Ca-metabolism
  • maintains eggshell quality