Effect of Organic or Inorganic Mineral Premix in the Diet on Laying Performance of Aged Laying Hens and Eggshell Quality

Simple Summary Organic trace minerals have a greater impact on eggshell quality than inorganic trace minerals. Trace minerals involved in animal growth and development, including eggshell formation, are essential for laying hens. However, most previous research center around the effects of single trace minerals or single aspects of mineral supplementation. The effect of synchronous replacement of inorganic minerals, such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and magnesium, with organic trace minerals on the quality of eggs laid by aged laying hens, has not been evaluated extensively. This study concludes that feed with organic trace minerals improved eggshell quality of aged laying hens. In this study, we examined the effect of diets supplemented with organic and inorganic mineral premixes on the laying performance and eggshell quality of aged laying hens. A total of 600 68-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments, repeated 5 times: Mash type basal diet, basal diet supplemented with an inorganic mineral premix (1.0 g/kg), and basal diet supplemented with an organic mineral premix (1.8 g/kg). The results showed that eggshell strength was higher (p < 0.01) in the inorganic mineral diet group than in the organic mineral and basal diet groups. Further, the levels of Fe and Mn in the liver were higher (p < 0.05) in the inorganic and organic mineral diet groups than in the basal diet group. The concentrations of Fe and Mg in the spleen were different (p < 0.05) among the treatment groups, with the highest levels reported in the organic mineral premix group. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn in the eggshell were different (p < 0.05) among the groups, with the highest levels reported in the inorganic and organic mineral premix diet groups. In conclusion, a diet containing organic mineral premix improved eggshell strength and had no detrimental effect on the laying performance of aged laying hens.