Relationships between egg specific gravity and plasma phosphorus from hens fed different dietary calcium, phosphorus, and sodium levels

ABSTRACT A 6-week study was conducted with commercial egg production-type hens (Dekalb), which had been in production for 9 months, to determine the relationship between egg specific gravity and plasma phosphorus. Diets were formulated to contain various levels of calcium, phos-phorus, and sodium bicarbonate. From the addition of sodium bicarbonate or increasing the calcium content of the diet, plasma phosphorus decreased and egg specific gravity increased significantly. Egg specific gravity was found to be inversely related to plasma phosphorus. (Key words: plasma phosphorus, egg specific gravity, sodium bicarbonate, dietary calcium, dietary phosphorus, dietary sodium) 1 9 8 2 P o u I t r y s d e n c e 6 1 i l 7 5 _ 1 7