Effect of feeding different levels of dietary calcium and manganese on production performance and egg quality traits in frizzle x White Leghorn layers

An experiment was conducted using (n=90) frizzle x White Leghorn (WL) layers during 31–47 weeks to evaluate optimum levels of calcium (Ca) and manganese (Mn) for production performance and egg quality traits. Following 2 x 3 factorial design, six dietary treatments having two levels of Ca (2.5 and 3.0%) and three levels of Mn (50, 80 and 110 mg/kg) were formulated. The results indicated that hen day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and body weight changes did not differ significantly (P<0.05) due to either main effects or interaction of dietary Ca and Mn levels. The main effect of Ca significantly intluenced albumen index (P<0.05), Haugh Unit (P<0.01) and shell thickness (P<0.05). Significantly higher albumen index and Haugh unit was observed in low Ca diet (2.5%). Significantly better shell thickness was observed at high Ca diet (3.0%). The main effect of Mn significantly affected yolk index (P<0.01) and shell thickness (P<0.05). However, shape index, albumen index, Haugh unit and shell weight did not differ significantly due to Mn levels in the diet. The Ca and Mn interaction significantly affected albumen index, Hough unit and shell thickness. However, other parameters did not get intluenced significantly due to interaction of Ca and Mn in the diet. The results of the study indicated that a dietary level of 2.5% Ca with 50 mg/kg Mn was found optimum in diet of frizzle x WL layers for better production performance and egg quality traits.