Calcium pidolate was originally developed to treat osteoporosis in humans. The main symptom of osteoporosis is depletion of collagen in bones, making them brittle and prone to fracture.
French company Dietaxion identified calcium pidolate as a treatment for deficiencies in eggshell quality over 20 years ago, and have been successfully selling their brand PIDOLin PCa® worldwide ever since.
Calcium pidolate for poultry – how does it work in rear and late lay?
Problems with poor eggshell quality have traditionally been addressed by adding various calcium sources to the diet, but this does not tackle the root of the problem.
But is in fact the quality of the egg membrane that dictates the integrity of the shell deposited around it.
The principal constituent of the membrane is collagen. When the laying hen grows older, it becomes less efficient at synthesising collagen of the optimal quality. This results in a thinner membrane, less capable of supporting the eggshell. The eggshells of older birds are thus inherently weaker, leading to a significant increase in seconds.
The calcium-binding protein in PIDOLin PCa® facilitates the absorption of calcium sources in the diet into the blood and then into bones. It then mobilises calcium from the medullar bone into eggshell formation.
Feeding PIDOLin PCa® from week 50 (or when seconds start to increase) can reduce seconds by more than 20% and usually increases collectable eggs by 1-2%.
When fed in rear, for the first 28 days of life, better bone development and muscle laydown is observed, with significant improvement in uniformity and reduction in mortality. This early treatment, costing less than 1p/pullet, also reduces problems with eggshell quality in late lay and extends flock life. Returns are usually greater than 2:1 against cost.
For further information, call Greg Dunn on 01206 381521.