Egg is one of the most widely consumed sources of animal protein in India, as it has some significant benefits. It is an animal product that can be marketed directly once produced, since, thanks to its shell, it does not need special conditions for its transport, conservation and marketing. In addition, it is accepted socio-culturally, by the three religions that coexist in the country. Given the high population of India, and its annual growth, it is a key food to supply its nutritional needs, as well as being one of the most complete products of animal origin, rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids, among many others.

Currently, the egg production in India is around 115000 million annually, which indicates that it has multiplied by 10 since the ‘80s, and this growth must continue in order to supply the also growing population, and to increase per capita consumption, also a necessary aspect.

Regarding the production in the different regions of India, although there are annual variations and according to the sources, the south of India is the most producing region. The state of Andhra Pradesh has historically been the largest producer of eggs in the country, some years reaching 30% of the total eggs produced in the country. Followed by this state are Tamil Nadu, having reached 1% of the total production, as well as Karnataka, having reached 8% of the country’s annual total production.

Challenges in egg production in South India

The objective of the sector in the Indian subcontinent is to produce more and better-quality eggs, so knowing the challenges and problems that affect laying hens is essential to achieve this objective.

In India, some of the main challenges identified in the sector are described below:

• Nutrient absorption problems in the intestine, resulting in low egg weight, poor internal quality, and deficient egg coloration.
• Dirty egg problems: usually associated with microbiological challenges originating in the feed and in the animal itself, which denote digestive problems in hens, and which represent a food safety problem.
• Rapid transit problems that worsen productivity, farm efficiency, and litter quality.

There are different types of solutions specifically developed to counteract these problems, and they are postulated as a major help for egg production in South India.

1. Solutions based on intestinal conditioner pronutrients: they promote the stimulation of specific genes in the enterocytes, such as some related to an improvement in the absorption of nutrients and pigments, which promotes a better internal quality of the egg, better coloration of the yolk, and greater final egg weight.
2. Solutions based on cimenol ring: this natural microbicide molecule is specific against pathogens and promotes beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus. Therefore, it contributes to reducing pathogens from excessive growth in the intestine, or from feed, and the incidence of dirty eggs is reduced, which has a positive impact in terms of food safety.
3. Solutions based on activated diatoms. Specific species of diatoms, subject to specific activation processes, are capable of reducing the speed of intestinal transit, capturing OH- from water molecules, and releasing H+ that acidify the environment favoring digestive processes.

Conclusion

The growing population worldwide and in India, mean that the demand for eggs increases simultaneously to supply this population with protein of animal origin. In India, there is a marked production in the southern states, which face internal quality challenges, yolk color deficiencies, dirty eggs that can affect human health, and poor feed utilization by the hen due to accelerated intestinal transit. Solutions based on pronutrients, on the cimenol ring, and on specific activated diatoms, have proven to be highly effective in preventing the main challenges detected in southern India, and allow improving the quality and quantity of eggs produced, as well as the farm efficiency and profitability. They are also innovative natural technologies that do not generate resistance, do not require a withdrawal period, and their effectiveness will contribute to improving the sector’s commercial position in South India.