Farming, Saturday, May 14, 1994
P'
mil
'o
Penn State
Poultry j
Pointers
HOW CALCIUM IS
TRANSPORTED TO
the; eggshell
Dr. Carol V. Gay
Professor Of
Molecular And
Cell Biology
And Poultry Science
Egg-laying hens have a remark
able capacity to handle calcium. It
is well documented that calcium in
feed is readily absorbed by the
intestine by a process that requires
Vitamin D.
After passing through the intes
tinal lining, calcium moves into
the bloodstream, where it binds to
a protein called vitellogenin, a
unique substance capable of carry
ing large amounts of calcium to
various parts of the body. When
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vitellogenin-bound calcium
arrives in the shell gland, seconds
after being absorbed by the intes
tine, it is released and taken up by
the shell gland tissue if an egg is
present. (If an egg is not present,
calcium is stored in bone.) The
structure of the shell gland is ideal
ly suited to forming eggshells
which are made mainly of calcium
carbonate.
There are basically two types of
cells in the shell gland. One type
forms a sheet that stretches over
the calcifying eggshell and thereby
lines the shell gland. The other
type forms little tubes, called
tubules, that lie beneath the sheet
of lifting cells where they intermin
gle with numerous blood vessel!
The tubules open into the space
occupied by die egg. All these
structures are readily seen in a
microscope; however, the pre-
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sence of so many blood vessels is
obvious upon dissection. A fresh
shell gland is a robust shade of
dark red.
For calcium to reach the eggs
hell, it must pass out of the blood
vessels into the space around the
vessels and across either the sheet
of lining cells or into the tubules.
Twenty years ago, researchers,
using the available techniques to
trap calcium, suggested that the
lining cells were responsible for
the transfer of calcium. It was a
reasonable suggestion that has
turned out to be incorrect Now,
V
,/,r
with the advent of new microscop
ic methods, it is clear that calcium
moves across the tubule cells and
is pumped into the tubules where it
can flow into the space occupied
by the egg.
The new methods, developed
over the last few years, include a
stain for marking another calcium
carrying protein that moves cal
cium through the cells of the tubule
walls. This special protein is called
calbindin and is made by tubule
cells only in the presence of
estrogen.
A second method was deve
loped that allows an investigator to
look in a microscope and locate the
position of calcium pumps. In this
manner, a “calcium pump” was
found on the side of the cell that
faced the inside of the tubule.
These studies have made it clear
what route the calcium takes.
Calcium diffuses into a tubule
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cell from the side closest to blood
vessels. It moves through the cell
bound to calbindin and finally it is
pumped out of the cell by an
energy-requiring pump (another
unique protein) into die tubule.
It is anticipated that the best lay
ing hens will have high levels of
N.Y. Young Sire
Evaluation Sale Held
EATON, N.Y. Bull prices
were strong and demand was good
at the New York Young Sire
Evaluation Sale held at the Cor
nell T & R Center in New Har
tford mi April 23. The 16 bulls in
the sale sold at an overall average
price of $1328.
The top-selling bull was a Poll
ed Hereford from Sapp Valley
View Farm in Buckhannon, W.
Va. and sold for $2,700 to Tem
perance Hill Farm, Cazenovia,
N.Y. The top-selling Angus bull,
bred and owned by Phil Taylor of
Dancote Farm, Lawtons, N.Y.,
solf for $1,950.
Breed averages for the five
breeds represented in the sale
were Polled Hereford, $1,894;
Angus, $1,630; Limousin, $1,S00;
RX-s, $916; and Simmental,
$1,250.
The Young Sire Evaluation
Program is an on-farm based pro
gram that evaluates bulls based on
their expected progeny differ
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the unique proteins that are
involved in moving calcium along
its complicated pathway. Howev
er, little is understood about the
biochemistry and genetics that
directs this highly orchestrated
physiological process.
ences (EPDs). EPDs are an ex
tremely important tool used by
breeders for sire selection.
Final evaluation before the sale
included breeding and structural
soundness, rib eye area and back
fat thickness measurements, year
ling weight and weight per day
age, frame score and health status
and certification. With this detail
ed information available, produc
ers can choose a herd sire which
will best suit their herd and breed
ing program.
The Young Sire Evaluation
Program is cosponsored by Cor
nell Cooperative Extension and
the New York Beef Cattlemen’s
Association.
For more information on this
program or other activities related
to beef cattle production, contact
the NYBCA Executive Secretary
Carol Gillis at (315) 684-7114 or
write to P.O. Box 246, Eaton, NY
13334.
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505 Cliff St.
Honesdale, PA 18431
(717) 253-2410
CHIDESTER FARMS
RO 2, Box 75
Kingsley. PA 18826
(717) 289-4260
MELVIN G. MILLER
RT 2, Spring Mills, PA 16875
(814) 422-8279
PIKEVILLE
EQUIPMENT INC.
RT 2, Otey. PA 19547
(215) 987-6277
BHM FARM EQUIP. INC.
RR 1, Annville, PA 17003
(717) 867-2211
SHOW EASE STALL CO.
573 Willow Rd
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 299-2536
DEERFIELD AG &
TURF CENTER, INC.
RD 2, Box 213
Watsontown, PA 17777
(717) 538-3557
HEFLIN SALES
& SERVICE
12312 Oak Hill Rd.
Woodsboro, MO 21798
(301) 898-3233
CHAMBERSBURG
FARM SERVICE
975 S. Main St.
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 264-3533
SOMERSET BARN EQ.
R.D. #5
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-SSSS
McMILLEN BROS.
RO 1 Box 134
Loysvllle, PA 17047
(717) 789-3961
HESS’ EQUIPMENT
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RR 3. Mifflinburg, PA 17844
(717) 988-2720
966-1998