Nutritional effects of egg shell membrane supplements on chicken performance and immunity

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Animal Nutrition
• Immunology

Background:

• Eggshell membranes (ESM) are rich in proteins and peptides with potential immune-modulatory and antimicrobial properties.
• ESM byproducts are a potential source for nutritional supplements in animal feed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of posthatch dietary supplementation with eggshell membranes (ESM) on broiler chick performance and immunity.
• To evaluate the impact of ESM on growth, organ weights, hematology, and serum immune markers.

Main Methods:

• Broiler chicks were fed diets containing 0%, 0.2%, or 0.4% ESM from day 1 to 14 posthatch.
• Body weight, relative organ weights, hematology, and serum biochemistry (including IgM, IgG, corticosterone) were analyzed at 3 weeks.

Main Results:

• ESM supplementation significantly increased body weight without affecting relative organ weights.
• Increased white blood cell and lymphocyte percentages, decreased monocyte percentages, elevated IgM and IgG levels, and reduced corticosterone were observed.
• Serum protein levels increased in ESM-fed birds; other metabolic variables showed no significant changes.

Conclusions:

• Dietary ESM supplementation in early growth phases can enhance broiler immunity and growth performance.
• ESM improves stress variables and immune response without adverse physiological effects.