CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN EGG SHELL OF A COMMERCIAL STRAIN OF DOMESTIC FOWL MANAGED IN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the chemical elements of the egg shell of exotic commercial pullets (Lohmann) in their first laying year. A total of 160 eggs from eight pullet were randomly selected at three-monthly intervals during the production year for the determination of chemical elements of the eggshell. The average concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, zinc and iron were 90.36%, 0.87%, 0.90%, 3.85%, 0.51%, 0.10%, 0.002%, and 0.005% respectively. Most of the paired variates of the mineral elements showed significant (P < 0.01) inter-relationship as depicted by measures of correlation coefficients. There were no significant relationships between Ca and most mineral elements and on the other hand mg was significantly correlated with phosphorus N, K, and Zn. Correlation coefficients between P and Fe, N and Na, Zn or Fe and between Na and Zn were not significant.