Egg Performance and Quality Evaluation of Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Supplemented with Calphos using Oyster Shell

Julius  T. Vergara,; Jose Ezcekel  G. Ellaga,

Egg Performance and Quality Evaluation of Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Supplemented with Calphos using Oyster Shell

Jose Ezcekel G. Ellaga | Julius T. Vergara

Discipline: Food and Beverage Production

Abstract:

The study investigates the impact of supplementing quail diets with Calphos, a calcium source derived from oyster shells, on egg performance and quality. Calcium is a vital nutrient for laying birds, influencing egg production and shell integrity. Despite previous research exploring various calcium sources, there is a lack of clarity regarding their specific effects on quail productivity. This research addresses this gap by evaluating the effect of different concentrations of Calphos in water (20ml, 25ml, and 30ml per liter) on the number of eggs laid, laying rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and egg quality, including shell thickness, egg length, width, and weight. Using a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and three replicates, the results reveal significant improvements in egg performance and quality, particularly with 20ml Calphos supplementation, which produced the highest laying rate and egg count. While FCR and shell thickness showed minimal improvement, egg weight, length, and width were significantly enhanced at higher Calphos concentrations (25ml and 30ml). These findings suggest that incorporating Calphos supplementation, especially at 20ml to 30ml per liter, can be an effective strategy for improving egg production and quality in quail farming. Further research is recommended to optimize dosage and assess the long-term economic impact on poultry production.

References:

de Souza, D. S., Calixto, L. F. L., de Lemos, M. J., da Silva Filho, C. A., Pinho, T. P., Machado, C. A., de Melo, I. A., & Togashi, C. K. (2016). Quail performance and egg quality at the end of production were evaluated when fed with varying levels of calcium. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 37(4), 2395–2406. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n4Supl1p2395
Eberhart, B. D. S., Valentim, J. K., Garcia, R. G., Serpa, F. C., Félix, G. A., Souza, M. F. d. A., … & Komiyama, C. M. (2021). The addition of homeopathy to the diet of Japanese quails increases egg weight. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 42(3supl1), 1879–1890. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2021v42n3supl1p1879
Hubilla, E. K. (2020). Natural farming input that helps develop plant structure for fruit bearing. Agriculture Magazine. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/yt3azcxd
Leão, A. P. A., Lana, S. R. V., Lana, G. R. Q., Júnior, R. F. d. B., Mendonça, D. S., & Oliveira, T. J. d. (2020). Digestibility and bioavailability of organic calcium sources for European quail. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 41(6supl2), 3275–3284. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2020v41n6supl2p3275
Mako, A. A., Mosuro, A. O., Adedeji, B. S., Jemiseye, F. O., & Abokede, T. V. (2020). Comparative use of oyster shell and limestone as sources of calcium in the diet of laying chickens. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 44(1), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v44i1.804
Mendonça, D. d. S., Lana, S. R. V., Lana, G. R. Q., Leão, A. P. A., Júnior, R. F. d. B., Lima, L. A. d. A., … & Silva, W. A. d. (2022). Different calcium sources affect the productive performance and bone quality of meat quail. Ciência Rural, 52(6). https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20210446
Olgun, O., Yıldız, A. Ö., & Çufadar, Y. (2015). The effects of eggshell and oyster shell supplements as calcium sources on performance, eggshell quality, and mineral excretion in laying hens. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 49(2), 205–210. https://doi.org/10.5958/0976-0555.2015.00056.4
Ribeiro, C., Barreto, S., Reis, R., Muniz, J., Viana, G. d. S., Ribeiro, V., … & DeGroot, A. (2016). The effect of calcium and available phosphorus levels on performance, egg quality, and bone characteristics of Japanese quails at the end of the egg-production phase. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 18(spe), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2015-0014
Sarmiento‐García, A., Gökmen, S. A., Sevim, B., & Olgun, O. (2022). A novel source of calcium: Effects of calcium pidolate concentration on egg quality in aged laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The Journal of Agricultural Science, 160(6), 551–556. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021859622000600
Tabeekh, M. A. S. A. (2011). Evaluate some external and internal egg quality traits of quails reared in Basrah city. Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research, 10(2), 78–84. https://doi.org/10.33762/bvetr.2011.55029
Tunç, A. E., & Çufadar, Y. (2014). Effect of calcium sources and particle size on performance and eggshell quality in laying hens. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 3(4), 205–209. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v3i4.205-209.262
Utami, M. M. D., & Akbar, A. (2025). Enhancing nutrient intake, egg production, and egg quality by fermented Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal in a diet oflaying quail. Veterinary World, 18(1), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.133-140