Abstract:
This study was conducted with two consequential experiments to i
nvestigate the effect
of magnetized water on
in
-
vitro
limestone solubility and eggshell breaking strength in
laying hens. The first experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of magnetized
water and particle size on
in
-
vitro
limestone solubility. T
hree particle sizes including small
particles, less than 0.125 mm; large particles, 2
-
4 mm and normal mix, 0.045
-
4.00 mm
were tested. Magnetized water was generated by magnetizer of 0.65 Tesla magnetic fields.
Scanning Electron Microscopy images (SEMi) wer
e used to study the morphology of
limestone crystals after dissolution in magnetized and tap water. Limestone solubility was
measured by 0.2N HCl solution. The second in
-
vivo experiment was conducted to study
the effect of magnetized water and dietary cal
cium on breaking strength of eggshell.
Three dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus (normal, 10 and 20% reduced Ca and
available P.) and two types of water (tap water and magnetized water) were used in Hy
-
line laying hens at 32 weeks of age. Breaking str
ength of the normal (safe and sound) eggs
was measured with an Instron testing machine. The solubility of large limestone particles
was less than those of small particles. Magnetically treated water did not change
in
-
vitro
limestone solubility but changed
the morphology of limestone crystals. Precipitated
limestone crystals in magnetized water tended to be larger and more uniform in size than
those in tap water. Reducing dietary levels of Ca and P had no significant effect on egg
breaking strength at 36 wee
ks of age. Magnetized water was able to numerically increase
strength of the eggs. Therefore, based on the SEMi and the observed changes in
crystalline structure of dissolved (exposed to water) precipitated limestone and observed
changes in breaking streng
th of the eggs, it is hypothesized that magnetized water may
have the potential to change the limestone availability and consequently egg strength in
laying hens.
Keywords:
Limestone solubility, Magnetized water, Particle size, Scanning electron
microscop.