Field Trial Confirms the Benefits of Pidolin® PCa in Breeder Hens
As breeder hens age, maintaining egg production, shell quality, and flock vitality becomes increasingly challenging. A recent large-scale field trial in the Czech Republic (2025) demonstrates how Pidolin® PCa (calcium pidolate) helps support laying persistence, egg quality, survivability and overall profitability in late-production breeder flocks.
Real Farm Conditions, Real Results
The 49-day trial was conducted under commercial conditions, involving nearly 40.000 breeder hens:
- Control group: Isa Brown, basal diet
- Pidolin® PCa group: Bovans Brown, basal diet + 300 g/t Pidolin® PCa
- Supplementation period: weeks 64–68
All management parameters (housing, temperature, lighting, density) were identical, ensuring supplementation was the key differentiating factor.
Improved Laying Persistence and Egg Output
Despite the advanced age of the flock, hens receiving Pidolin® PCa showed a clear performance advantage:
- +1.2 points laying persistence compared to the control
- +1.5% more eggs selected for incubation
- More stable production with lower variation over time
These results indicate that Pidolin® PCa helps sustain productive performance when natural calcium utilization typically declines.
Beyond productivity, flock health also benefited from supplementation:
- −0.19 percentage points lower mortality during the supplementation period
This reduction reflects improved physiological resilience in aging breeder hens.
Why Pidolin® PCa Works?
Pidolin® PCa combines calcium with pidolic acid, a biologically active molecule that:
- Promotes active calcium transport via arginine supply
- Supports collagen synthesis via proline supply
- Contributes to improved eggshell formation and structural integrity
The trial confirms that these mechanisms translate into measurable on-farm benefits.
Strong Economic Return
Performance gains were accompanied by an excellent financial outcome:
- Net benefit: €0,23 per hen
- ROI: 9:1
- Equivalent to €232 net benefit per 1.000 hens
Even after accounting for the supplementation cost, increased chick output drove a clear return on investment.
Proven Support for Aging Breeder Flocks
Pidolin® PCa is a practical nutritional tool to help breeders stay productive, profitable, and resilient in late lay.
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