A recently conducted trial showed that Norel & Nature's QUALITEGG can improve egg quality and laying rate in poultry.

QUALITEGG was designed with the following objectives:

• maintain or improve laying rate;
   
• increase egg size and weight, improving feed conversion ratio;
   
• improve shell thickness and albumen density

The trial was conducted on a layer farm in the Philippines. There were 2,400 birds in two groups, control and QUALITEGG (2 kg/MT). After one month, the laying rate was higher in the experimental group (80.4 percent vs. 79.6 percent) and there were less broken eggs (212 vs. 242) and soft shelled eggs (216 vs. 232), reducing the quantity of damaged eggs from 1.30 to 1.15 percent.

Quality of eggs, especially in older hens, is a concern because the shell tends to become weaker. The laying rate also decreases at the same time, reducing farm productivity.

Another quality concern is the albumen density. Runny, watery albumen may lead to rejection from the consumer or food industry. Shell strength is greatly influenced by the minerals and vitamins in the hen's diet, and that these components can also improve albumen quality.

On the other hand, research conducted by Norel & Nature indicates that using sodium butyrate in feeds improves the feed conversion ratio because of the positive effect on the development of intestinal villi, increasing nutrient absorption, and a positive action on the gut microflora, promoting the lactobacilli and helping to control pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella.