LIMESTONE OF BUKIT KAMANG AS A CALCIUM SOURCE FOR LAYING HENS

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to study the use of natural limestone meal originated from Bukit Kamang located at Agam district of West Sumatra to substitute fresh water oyster shell as the main source of calcium in diet of laying hens. The mineral feed formula, as treatments, composed of limestone in combination with freshwater oyster shell in five different percent ratios: 100:0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75 and 0:100. The minerals were mixed in the level of 6 % into basal diet composed mainly corn, rice bran and concentrates. The five experimental diets were then fed to 150 laying hens. They were divided into 5 groups; each group was subdivided into 3 replicates groups containing 10 hens. Parameters measured included: feed intake, egg production, FCR, eggshell quality, Ca and P retention, tibia bone mineralization. Results showed the nutritive values of limestone of Bukit Kamang as mineral source of laying hen diet were found not significantly different from those of oysters shell. The hens fed with diet supplemented with Bukit Kamang’s limestone tended to give better laying performances than those of supplemented with fresh water oyster shell. The laying performances, egg shell quality and Ca and P retentions did not significantly improved, when limestone was mixed by oyster shell. Keywords: Mineral Feed, Limestone, Freshwater Oyster Shell, Layer Nutrition.