The Effect of Age of Breeder Hen on the Levels of Vitamins and Minerals in Turkey Eggs

Abstract Eggs (960) from each of six hens were selected from Large and Small White turkey hens housed in cages or floor pens and fed a standard 17% protein turkey breeder diet. Ten consecutive eggs laid between 2 to 5, 5 to 9, 12 to 16, and 19 to 23 weeks of the egg production cycle were analyzed for folic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin B12, biotin, selenium, and calcium. There were significant decreasing changes with aging for egg levels of pyridoxine, vitamin B12, and calcium but significant increasing changes with aging for egg levels of biotin between 4 to 20 weeks of production for all combinations of strains and housing types. There was a significant interaction between the effect of strain types, housing types, and aging for egg folic acid levels and a significant interaction between strains and aging for vitamin B12 levels. At 24 weeks of production all combinations of strains and housing types decreased to the lowest egg folic acid levels measured over the production season. Egg pantothenic acid and selenium levels did not change significantly with aging for either strain or housing type. In general, there were no significant correlations between dietary intakes of vitamins and minerals with vitamin or mineral levels deposited in eggs. These data suggest that changes in vitamin and mineral levels deposited in the egg are related to the aging process of the hen.