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Fluoride tolerance of laying hens
C B Coetzee1, N H Casey, J A Meyer
1Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Pretoria University, South Africa.
British Poultry Science
|March 25, 1998
Summary
Laying hens can tolerate up to 4.453 mg of fluoride daily for 74 weeks. While high fluoride levels impacted weight and egg production, critical organs and eggshell strength remained unaffected.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Toxicology
- Poultry Nutrition
Background:
- Fluoride exposure in poultry drinking water is a concern for animal health and productivity.
- Understanding the toxicological effects of varying fluoride concentrations is crucial for commercial poultry farming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effects of different sodium fluoride concentrations in drinking water on Silver Grey Hyline hens.
- To assess the impact of fluoride on growth, mortality, egg production, eggshell quality, and bone fluoride accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Administered drinking water with 5 sodium fluoride concentrations (0-20 mg/l) to 1000 hens over 17 weeks (growth) and 57 weeks (laying).
- Monitored feed utilization, mortality, weight gain, food intake, egg production, and eggshell breaking strength.
- Conducted post-mortem analyses, including carcase weight, liver/kidney histopathology, and os femur fluoride content.
Main Results:
- No significant effects on food utilization or mortality during the rearing phase.
- Decreased weight gain and food intake observed at 10 and 14 mg/l fluoride.
- Significant impact on egg production, but not eggshell breaking strength.
- Dose-dependent increase in carcase weight and femur fluoride content; linear bone fluoride accumulation.
- No histopathological changes in liver or kidneys; liver weights and os femur breaking strength unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Laying hens can tolerate up to 4.453 mg fluoride/day for 74 weeks under commercial conditions.
- Fluoride exposure primarily affects growth and egg production, with minimal impact on organ health or eggshell integrity at tolerated levels.
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