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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339630
Research Project: Evaluation of Management of Laying Hens and Housing Systems to Control Salmonella and Other Pathogenic Infections, Egg Contamination, and Product Quality

Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit

Title: Effect of chromium oxide on egg quality parameters in white Leghorns

Author
item REGMI, PRAFULLA - Purdue University
item LESZCZ, JOSEPH - Michigan State University
item ROBISON, CARA - Michigan State University
item Jones, Deana
item KARCHER, DARRIN - Purdue University

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2017
Publication Date: 7/7/2017
Citation: Regmi, P., Leszcz, J., Robison, C.I., Jones, D.R., Karcher, D.M. 2017. Effect of chromium oxide on egg quality parameters in white Leghorns. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 96:202.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: he use of index marker in feed has greatly simplified nutrients and energy digestibility measurements of feed ingredients. Ideally, index markers should be completely inert with no toxic, physiological, or pharmacological effects on the subject. Chromium sesquioxide (Cr2O3), also known as chromium oxide, is commonly used in poultry digestibility trials. Chromium oxide, however, has been suggested to impact physiological processes in the body of some fish species. Chromium oxide is used commonly in meat birds but its effect on egg production and egg quality parameters in laying hens has not been extensively investigated. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of chromium oxide inclusion in diets of laying hens on egg quality parameters. One hundred and twenty white leghorn hens (72 wk) were individually housed in conventional cages and served as their own controls. The birds had ad libitum access to feed and water. Eggs were collected one wk prior to feeding of the diet containing 0.3% chromium oxide (control eggs, C). Eggs were further collected 1 (W1), 2 (W2), and 3 (W3) wk after the hens were on the chromium containing diet. For each period, eggs were collected over a period of 5 d. Egg weight, shell weight, and shell thicknesses were measured. Egg breaking strength was measured using Texture Analyzer®. Fixed effect of treatments (C, W1, W2, and W3) and random effects of eggs nested within the bird were included in the model. Significant main effect was observed for egg breaking force (P = 0.03) and shell thickness (P = 0.04). However, the difference between the groups were not significant for any parameters after the means were separated using Tukey’s adjustment at P < 0.05 [Mean breaking force (gm) - C = 3873.23, W1 = 3721.41, W2 = 3745.29, W3 = 3723.41; Shell thickness (mm) – C = 0.41, W1 = 0.39, W2 = 0.40, W3 = 0.40]. Natural variation in egg quality parameters during the trial period could have confounded the results. The results indicate that there are significant, yet, very small changes in egg quality parameters when chromium was included in the diet.